E.H. "Jack" Copeland

Charlotte – Jack Copeland lived a good, full life as a loving husband and father, accomplished architect, devoted Methodist and a man who appreciated his blessings even after illness required a wheelchair. He died October 4, 2015 after enduring ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) with a quiet grace. He was 81 years old.

Jack was born and raised in Fieldale, Va., the oldest of Gene and Mary Copeland’s three children. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Virginia Tech and started his career in Danville, Va., where he found a lot more than a job: He met his dear wife, Ann, on a blind date and were married in 1958. They settled in Charlotte in 1961 and spent 57 years together – raising a family, enjoying family vacations, eating Ann’s wonderful cooking, and serving their church, community and world.

Jack practiced architecture for 55 years; he was president of Odell Associates before opening his own firm, The Copeland Office, in 1980. He belonged to the American Institute of Architects and served as president of the Charlotte chapter of AIA North Carolina.

Jack was an American Red Cross disaster volunteer for 23 years. As a member of Myers Park United Methodist Church and active in the Western North Carolina Conference, he took a dozen mission trips to Central and South America and Europe. At his church, he was a member of the Ownbey Sunday School class and served as a Stephen Minister.

Jack served as president of the Virginia Tech Carolinas Alumni Chapter, and was founder and president of the Myers Park Foundation, which published the history of the Myers Park community, Legacy. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center, Charlotte Country Club, Charlotte Athletic Club and Charlotte Optimist Club. He was proud to be a 12th-generation Virginian, and belonged to the Jamestowne Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and Flagon and Trencher Society. He was proud of his heritage, and proud of his service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; three daughters – Allison Williams of Winston-Salem, Sarah Lee Beck and her husband, Mark, of Fort Mill, S.C., and Letitia Grossman and her husband, David, of Charlotte; and eight grandchildren – Taylor Williams and his wife, Liz, of Winston-Salem, Laurin Williams of Boston, Eliza Williams of Asheville, Lily, David and Leo Beck, all of Fort Mill, and Margaret and Sarah Grossman of Charlotte. He is also survived by his brother, Robert Copeland, of Springfield, Mass., and his sister, Anne Copeland, of Fieldale, Va. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Anna Beck.

The Copeland family wants to thank everyone at Southminster and Embrace, and Dr. Benjamin Brooks and the staff at CMC Neurology for the loving care received in Jack’s last days.

A service to celebrate Jack Copeland’s life will be held at 2 pm Thursday, Oct. 8, at Myers Park United Methodist Church. Visitation will follow in Jubilee Hall.

A gift in his memory can be made to Stephen Ministries at Myers Park United Methodist, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 or American Red Cross, 2425 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28203.