October 13, 2010

“We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” — 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (paraphrase)

Mildred Whitfield Copeland, 85, of Lummis Road, died Oct. 13, 2010, in Loyola Hospital, Maywood, Ill. She was born on Nov. 30, 1924 to the late William Whitfield and Ruth White in Suffolk, Va.

She was a long-time member of St. Matthews Apostolic Church and also attended Evergreen Holiness Church.

She retired from the city of Norfolk in 1989 and later relocated to Maywood, Ill., to live with her daughter.

She was predeceased by her husband, Willie John Copeland.

Ms. Copeland will be on view at the funeral home, Tuesday, Oct. 19, from 3 to 8 p.m. The family will receive guests at 1162 Lummis Road all other times. A service of remembrance will be held at El Bethel Worship Center, 4324 Holland Road Suffolk, VA 23434, Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Zion UCC Church Cemetery.

Professional funeral arrangements are entrusted to T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home, Inc.