AHOSKIE – William Roger “Billy” Copeland, Jr., age 72, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Copeland was born on December 12, 1941 in Bertie County, a son of the late William and Edna (White) Copeland.  He was in the first graduating class at Pitt Community College where he earned his Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering.  Billy was owner and operator of Bertie Staffing and B & B Mini Storage in Ahoskie.   He was a member of Center Grove Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and was on the finance committee.  Billy loved the outdoors and was an avid golfer and fisherman as long as his health permitted.

Besides his parents, Mr. Copeland was preceded in death by his brother, Darden Copeland.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Brenda Brinkley Copeland, his son, William Roger “Bill”  Copeland, III and wife, Georgia, of Ahoskie;  two daughters, Renee C. Boswell and husband, Greg, of Colerain, and Rebeccah C. Adams and husband, Roger, of Aulander; two sisters, Melba Cobb and husband, Braxton, of Merry Hill, and Paige Myers and husband, Bob, of Colerain; two brothers, Sidney Copeland and wife, Carolyn, of Aulander, and Carson Copeland of Windsor; two granddaughters, Gracie Boswell of Colerain, and Cassidy Adams of Aulander; two grandsons, Will Chamblee and fiancé Landis Joyner of Ahoskie, and Josh Adams and wife Suzanne of Aulander; a great-granddaughter, Faith Adams of Aulander; his best friend, his dog, Bogey, numerous nieces and nephews and special friends.

The family will receive friends at the home.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at the Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel, Ahoskie, with the Rev. J. N. Baggett and the Rev. Daniel Mullens officiating. Burial will follow in HighlandMemorialGardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Center Grove Baptist Church, 826 Center Grove Rd., Ahoskie, NC, 27910, or to ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation, 525 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC, 27834.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Copeland family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.