Billy Mills Copeland

Pallbearers honored to serve will be:

Neal Willard, Richard Creasy, Doug Hampton, Kalub Fontenot, Michael Happs, Robert Mimum.

Steadfast, strong, faithful, and determined, Billy Mills was the hallmark of courage and encouragement in every role he played, especially that of loving husband, father, uncle, and friend. Faithfully he knew, followed, and loved our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with all his heart, and it was his unwavering faith and God's love that guided and grounded him through times of test and times of triumph.

Billy was born June 30, 1936, in Lecompte, Louisiana, a son of the late W.E. "Will" Copeland and Vena Muriel Johnson Copeland Kennedy Jennings. Upon the untimely death of his father, the family moved to the great state of Texas, calling Beeville and San Antonio home. After graduating from Northside High School in 1954, Billy served in the U.S. Army in the rank of PFC. Returning to Texas after his military service, he attended San Antonio College studying business. Following a love at first sight courtship, Billy married Madeline Willard on June 29, 1957, starting a life together and a family united.

Motivation and dedication drove Billy to career positions with W. W. Grainger, Inc. as territory manager of the greater San Antonio division of Westinghouse Appliance Company, senior supervisor of Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Independent agent for Opulent Sales, a national Yellow Pages agency, and vice president owner-agent of Copeland Insurance Agency.

“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.”

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Billy was truly skilled in the art of turning dreams into reality. Finding an immense sense of accomplishment through contributions to the literary world, Billy authored and published several works including Growing Up Lucky: A Young Magician's Travels in the American Civil War and Rancho Martinez: Story of Tough Women. His young-at-heart qualities paired well with this storyteller's thirst for history, photography and filmmaking.

He served as president and general manager of the San Antonio Hysterical Society, Inc. and San Antonio Fine Arts, Inc. Billy and Madeline owned and operated the Melodrama Playhouse on Hemisfair Plaza. Always the dynamic showman, Bill wrote, produced, directed, and performed in countless productions. The Traveling Copeland's amassed miles and destinations in their travel portfolio enjoying worldwide adventures around the globe.

Billy leaves behind a strong legacy of love to his family that includes: his devoted wife, Madeline Willard Copeland; niece, Linda Copeland Prudhomme; brother-in-law, Eugene Willard; sister-in-law, Frances Willard Falkenstein. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will sadly miss him.

Billy is preceded in death by his beloved sons, Christopher Scott Copeland and Forrest Clark Copeland; parents, W.E. "Will" Copeland and Vena Muriel Johnson Copeland Kennedy Jennings; stepfather, Forrest William "Bill" Kennedy; brother C. E. "Sonny" Copeland, maternal grandparents, Oliver Mills and Pearl Johnson; father-in-law, Harry Francis Willard “Willard the Wizard Magician”; (4) brother-in-laws; (5) sister-in-laws

A Graveside Service will take place on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 1:30PM at San Fernando Cemetery III, 1735 Cupples Road, San Antonio, Texas 78226.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boysville, Inc. San Antonio, TX 78226. https://boysvilletexas.org/donate/