William "Bill" Grady Copeland, Jr., son of the late Margaret Irene Davis Copeland and William Grady Copeland, died June 11 at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he was born, December 10, 1950. He played catcher and pitcher for many years in local Little League and Pony League baseball and was a 1969 graduate of Stranahan High School, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and track. He attended Mississippi State University on a football scholarship and graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism. Prior to joining his father's business, Grady's Bar, he was a part time sports writer at The Miami Herald, Broward Bureau. He was a member of the First Methodist Church of Ft. Lauderdale.
He is survived by his sisters, Judy Copeland (Anthony A.) More and Mary Copeland (Jose A. Gonzalez, Jr.). He was Uncle Bill to nieces Jennifer More (Marc) Stauffer, and Suzanne More (Edward) Paul, and nephew A. Copeland (Stephanie) More, two step-nieces Margaret (Carlos) Sires and Mary Murphy, four grand nephews, three grand nieces, two-step grand nephews and three step-grand nieces. Bill was a great lover of animals and in his memory donations may be made to the Humane Society of Broward County, 2070 Griffin Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312. Arrangements are pending with Fred Hunter Funeral Home, Fort Lauderdale.
