Bro. Donald (Don) Earl Copeland

Bro. Donald (Don) Earl Copeland, 89, of Rusk passed away April 11, 2024 at his home in Rusk, surrounded by his loving family. Bro. Don was born August 29, 1934 in Conroe, TX to James Hyram Copeland and Carrie Lee Monroe Copeland. He married Fayne Alexander May 26, 1956 at Salem Baptist Church in the Salem Community. Bro. Don followed his call to be a minister, pastoring at Memorial Missionary Baptist Church and Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church, but has always felt called to minister to the sick at local hospitals. Bro. Don has done many things throughout his life while ministering, he drove a school bus for a little while, he coached his daughter, Patricia’s softball team, and he and his wife owned Don’s Meat Market on North Main Street in Rusk, where he was referred to as “The Weennie Man” by the kids that he would hand out a sample hot dog to. Pastor Don loved to work with his hands and had a woodshop at the house where he liked to make various furniture, shelves and cabinets for the house. He kept a tally of how many weddings and funerals he had performed, 1679 funerals and 571 weddings. He always had a great sense of humor and if you didn’t realize that he had walked up behind you, he might just tickle your neck with the ribbon on his bible.

Bro. Don is survived by his wife, Fayne Copeland of Rusk; daughters: Patricia McCarty and husband James of Alto, Melony Branham and husband Jerry of Rusk; son: Rickey Copeland and wife Lana of Katy, TX; grandchildren: Brandon Copeland and wife Dani of Katy, Trenton Copeland of Ft Worth, TX, Jami Hicks and husband Brian of Rusk, Ashley Johnson of Rusk, Shannon Johnson and husband Bryan of Rusk, Kane McCarty of Mt. Enterprise; numerous great and great great grandchildren; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. Bro. Don is preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; four sisters; and grandson: Stephen Branham.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Oakland Missionary Baptist Church, 205 CR 1718, Rusk, TX 75785, with Pastor Brad Turlington officiating. Interment will follow at the Oakland Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Brandon Copeland, Trenton Copeland, Brian Hicks, Dyllan Wood, Roland Johnson, Kody Stanley. Honorary Pallbearer will be Bryan Johnson. Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Oakland Missionary Baptist Church. Flowers are permitted or memorials may be made to the Harmony Missionary Baptist Church building fund, P.O. Box 8, Rusk, TX 75785.