MURFREESBORO – Nancy Hall Sawyer Copeland, age 94, passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

She was born in Elizabeth City on August 7, 1917, an only child of Marvin Buck Sawyer and Emily Robinson Hall Sawyer.  She was the widow of Associate Justice J. William Copeland.

Mrs. Copeland was a 1938 graduate of Women’s College, which is now UNC Greensboro.  She was a member of the Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, the Hertford County Democratic Women, and a Yellow Dog Democrat.

Nancy was a former member of the University of N.C. Board of Trustees, N.C. Museum of History Associates, N.C. Symphony, Olla Podrida Book Club, and Chowan University Aquarobics.  She was presented at the North Carolina Terpsichorean Debutante Ball in 1936.

She is survived by her daughter, Emily Copeland Cato and husband Robert T. Cato of Raleigh; sons, James W. Copeland, Jr. and his wife Katherine Sanders Copeland of Goldsboro, and Buxton Sawyer Copeland of Raleigh; and grandchildren, Christopher Copeland, Natalie Sawyer Copeland, Elizabeth Kusanke Cato, Nancy Moran Copeland, and Eva Carol Copeland.

Besides her husband, Nancy was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Carol Smith Copeland.

Memorial contributions may be made to Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 392, Murfreesboro NC 27855; Murfreesboro Historical Association, P. O. Box 3, Murfreesboro NC 27855; or a charity of one’s choice.

Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, May 3, from 5-7 p.m. at the home, 407 East High Street, Murfreesboro.  A funeral service will be held Friday, May 4 at 11 a.m. at the Murfreesboro United Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael F. Gast and the Rev. Monica Yungeberg officiating.   Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery.

Family and friends may send online condolences to www.garrettjonesfh.com.