She was living in Suffolk, VA in March 1993.

The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk, VA
1 DEC 2003
Pg. B8-9
&
Daily Press
Newport News, VA
1 DEC 2003
Pg. C5

SMITHFIELD - Ellen Gertrude Boyce Copeland, age 81, a loving mother and beloved wife, died Nov. 29, 2003, in Tandem Health Care of Windsor, Va., peacefully after a long illness.

Gertrude was a native of North Carolina but married and lived most of her days in the Smithfield and Chuckatuck, Va., area.

She was a stay at home mom for all of her children and later enjoyed doing daycare. She also enjoyed working outside the home in sales and catering. Gertrude was a member of Whiteheads Grove Baptist Church.

Gertrude was the daughter of the late Vandy Earnest Boyce and Rosa Etta Bryum Boyce.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Delton Maurice Copeland Sr.; infant son, Adrian Lee Copeland; three brothers, Wilford Vandy Boyce, David Ernest Boyce, and Robert Lee Boyce; and two sisters, Roxie Boyce Daniels and Marie Boyce Matthews.

Survivors include two sons, Delton Maurice Copeland Jr. of Suffolk and Joseph Ray Copeland of Grayson, Ky.; two daughters, Mary Ann Copeland Little Low of Sacramento, Calif., and Bonnie Gay Riggs of Shiloh, N.C.; and two sisters, Edna Mae Boyce Byrum of Tyner, N.C., and Naoma Boyce Bunch of Edenton, N.C.; five grandsons, Ronald Wilson "Ron" Little Jr. of Sacramento, Calif., William Vincent Gay and Shannon Dale Gay, both of Rescue, Va., Michael Daven Copeland and Christopher Jason Copeland, both of Grayson, Ky.; plus two step-grandchildren, Greg Low and Dawn Low Keckin from California.

Gertrude also had two great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter, and 10 step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, at Colonial Funeral Home, Smithfield, Va.

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, at St. Luke's Memorial Park, Smithfield, with the Rev. Russell O. Leonard officiating.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made o the American Heart Association, Isle of Wight Chapter, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060.

Colonial Funeral Home, Smithfield, will be handling arrangements



Social Security Death Index
NAME: Ellen G. Copeland Sr.
SSN: 225-58-1645
BIRTH: 21 SEP 1922
DEATH: 29 NOV 2003 (V)
RESIDENCE: 23432 (Suffolk, Suffolk City, VA)
BENEFIT:
ISSUED: Virginia

• Married: 27 DEC 1941 in Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina

1. Living Copeland
2. Living Copeland
3. Living Copeland
4. Living Copeland
5. Adrian Lee Copeland b: 19 SEP 1943 in Chowan County, North Carolina