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The Rev. Joseph M. Copeland, 98, passed away on Aug. 15, 2020.

He was born in 1922 in Portsmouth and received his early childhood education in the Portsmouth public school system. He was employed with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for 28 years as a shipfitter and retired as a nuclear structure instructor. He pastored at Macedonia Christian Church (Norfolk), Zion United Church of Christ (Suffolk), and Union Congregational Christian Church (Norfolk), where he served for 26 years.

He leaves behind his wife of 77 years, Lillian Copeland; two sons, Joseph (Francine), of Maryland, and Wayman (Joan), of Virginia Beach; two sisters, Annie (Eugene) Jones and Lillimarie Baysmore; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Services for immediate family will be held Thursday, Aug. 20, at Corprew Funeral Home in Portsmouth. Live streaming will be available.