Mary Virginia Copeland
Mary Virginia Stone Copeland, known as “Virginia,” 88, of Nacogdoches, Texas, passed away on March 17, 2011, surrounded by her children. The mother of four children, grandmother to 9, great-grandmother to 15, devoted wife for 59 years to the late Calvin Wesley “C.W.” Copeland, and a true friend to many, Virginia was an independent, determined, and stubborn third generation native of Nacogdoches. Virginia was born in Nacogdoches on July 2, 1922, one of five children of G. H. “Hilliard” and Maggie Stone.
After a high school courtship, Virginia and C. W. eloped to Marshall, Texas, and were married in the evening at the Harrison County Courthouse by a Justice of the Peace who was participating in a Lions Club meeting. The wedding was witnessed by the county sheriff and by about 20 Lions Club members. C. W. and Virginia managed to keep their marriage a secret for 2 weeks before revealing it to Virginia’s disapproving parents. Their early married life was interrupted by World War II. Virginia followed C. W. to New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania where he trained before being shipped out to Europe for 2 years. Upon his return, they lived in Tyler, Texas for a few years and then settled in Texarkana, Texas, where C. W. was employed by the Cotton Belt Railroad and where Virginia owned and operated a large day care center.
C. W. and Virginia retired to Nacogdoches in 1990 and built a house next door to her sister, Lucille Frederick. Virginia lived in the house until 2010 when she moved to The Arbor Assisted Living Facility where she made her home until her death. Her house is still filled with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her energy.
Virginia is predeceased by her husband, Calvin Wesley “C. W.” Copeland, her parents, Hilliard Stone and Maggie Lee Stone, her sister, Lucille Stone Frederick, and her three brothers, Lewis Stone, George Stone and Keith Stone.
Virginia is survived by her four children and their spouses: Ronald Copeland (Nevada), Patricia Rucker (Richard), Gelea Clem (Larry), and Rebecca Porterfield (Darrell) , by 9 grandchildren: Shannon Copeland Rizzo, Nicole Copeland Emery, Jason Rucker, Joshua Rucker, Chad Porterfield, Shelley Porterfield Gossett, Justin Clem, Brandon Clem, and Taylor Clem, and 15 great grandchildren Heather Rizzo, Isabella Rizzo, Luke Rizzo, Jake Rizzo, Samantha Emery, Michael Emery, David Emery, Addie Rucker, Will Rucker, Chloe Rucker, Lili Rucker, Harlan Rucker, Jacob Porterfield, Brooke Porterfield, and Dylan Tunmire, and cat Missy.
Services will be held at 3:00 P. M. Saturday, March 19, at Laird Funeral Home and interment will be at Sunset Memorial Park afterward. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 18, 2011, from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. The family appreciates deeply the love and care provided by the staff of the Arbor Assisted Living Facility, LifeCare Hospice, and Dr. Richard Baker.
We remember Virginia’s laugh and her love of children. She did not know a stranger and had numerous life-long friends in town.
Donations in Virginia’s memory may be made to Nacogdoches Humane Society at 3211 SW Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961, or just by hugging a child in her memory.
