Raymond J. Copeland Sr., 79, of 6218 Leafwood Road, Suffolk, died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, in Autumn Care Nursing Home.

He was born on Feb. 20, 1923 in Nansemond County to the late Joseph and Mrs. Mary L. Gordon Copeland. He was the widower of Mrs. Etta Vines Copeland.

Mr. Copeland had retired from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after 39 years of service.

He was the former general manager and player for the Holland Aces.

He was a member of Greater Suffolk Elks Lodge No. 206, and past Worshipful Master of Holland Masonic Lodge No. 256.

He was a veteran of World War II.

Mr. Copeland was a faithful member of Laurel Hill UCC, where he was a member of the Senior and Combined choirs. He was a past treasurer and trustee, for which he recently received an award for his years of dedicated service.

Mr. Copeland leaves to cherish his memory his loving family, daughters and sons-in-law, Janice M. Copeland and Muriel Council (James) of Suffolk; sons and daughters-in-law, Raymond J. Copeland Jr. (Margie) of Eure, N.C., Joseph H. Copeland Sr. (Crystal) of Cleveland, Ohio, Lee T. Copeland Sr. (Joyce), and Roderick Copeland and special friend, Tracy Jones, all of Suffolk; three sisters, Magdalene Banks of Como, N.C., Katie C. Knight (Johnnie) and Hilda C. Abram (Herbert), both of Suffolk; three brothers, James E. Copeland (Lula), of Suffolk, Karl S. Copeland (Gloria) of Jersey City, N.J., and Enoch Copeland (Lula) of Suffolk; brothers-in-law, Rev. Willie Vines and B.J. Holland of Suffolk; sisters-in-law, Nellie V. Williams and Mrs. Louise Vines; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and a special caregiver, Mrs. Mary Riddick of Suffolk.

The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, in Laurel Hill UCC by Dr. Carl Sweatt Jr. Burial will in the church cemetery.

The body will be taken from Peebles Funeral Home to the church at 1 p.m.