Virginia "Ginny" Copeland

Ginny graduated from Oaks High School with honors at the age of 16. She married Billy Leroy Copeland and they celebrated 64 years of marriage before he passed in 2013. Ginny worked as a school cook, a florist at Morris-Crager Flowers, a sales lady at the Style Shop, postmaster at the Proctor Post Office, Volunteer at Cookson Hills Christian School, Sunday School teacher at Scraper and Combs Church while raising six children and always having supper on the table when Bill walked in the door from work at 5:30.

Her greatest talent was in song and poetry writing. She wrote hundreds of songs and poems and had over 20 songs published by Leoma Publishing Company over the years. She wrote a weekly article for the local paper “Ginny’s Pen” for several years and wrote and published a poem to each of her grandchildren on their birth. Many people received her poems of tribute on special occasions, including Jacqueline Kennedy(upon the president’s death) who sent her a cherished thank you note. Ginny loved her Lord and witnessed to everyone to the last days of her life here on earth. She loved her family and friends and was the most loving and generous person. She especially had a heart for Israel.

Ginny is preceded by her husband Bill Copeland, an infant daughter, Leanne, and a great grandson, Austin Trapp, her parents, Elmer and Lavella Tyer Welch, brothers LC Welch, JW Welch, Curtis Welch, and sister Neomia Pearson.

She is survived by her children, all of Tahlequah, Justin and wife Sharon Copeland, Donna and husband Denver Spears, Tommy and wife Janice Copeland, Joy and husband JD Keys, Gaylynn Copeland Nance, and Tammy Copeland Holloway. Also her 12 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 9 great great grandchildren. She also leaves behind two brothers, Jerry and wife Ramona of Tahlequah, Jack and Jackie Welch of Oaks, Sisters Lois Martin of Tahlequah, Betty and husband Jack Gandy of Rose, OK. and Connie Gandy of Oaks.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 am at Boudinot Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fellowship of Jews and Christians or to One for Israel.

The family would like to take this chance to thank the staff of Cherokee County Nursing Center and Carter Hospice for the kind and loving care given to Virginia and her family. It will not be forgotten.