Wm. Clinton Copeland

William Clinton "Bill" Copeland, 81, of 1031 W. Bear Swamp Road, Hertford, NC, died Tuesday, September 24, 2013 in Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, NC. Mr. Copeland was born in Chowan County and was the son of the late Alvin and Christine Ellis Copeland. A retired heavy equipment operator from the Harvey Point Special Testing Activity Base after 30 years of employment, he had also worked as a funeral assistant with the former Swindell Funeral Home. A life-long farmer, he enjoyed gardening and fishing. He was a member of both Great Hope Baptist Church and the Bethel Ruritan Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Alice Lamb and Mildred Byrum, and a brother, Wilbur Copeland. Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Ruby Jethro Copeland; two sons, William H. Copeland and wife Judy and Herbert J. Copeland, both of Hertford; two sisters, Gladys Overton of Hertford and Alma White of Hobbsville; three brothers, Ray Copeland of Belvidere, Henry Copeland of Hertford, and Ervin Copeland of Hobbsville; four grandchildren, Paul Copeland, Jason Copeland, Cristy Devine, and Billie Jo Beasley; and four great-grandchildren, Ethan and Carson Copeland, and Brandon and Haley Devine. Funeral services will be held Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Chapel, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, by the Revs. Stanley Nixon and Donald Sawyer. Burial will follow in the Copeland Family Cemetery. Friends may join the family Thursday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home, and all other times at the residence. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2418 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 206, Raleigh, NC 27607. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.