- Date Of Birth: September 20, 1946
- Date Of Death: October 19, 2018
- State: Georgia
Patricia Lynn Coppins Copelan, 72, of Greensboro, GA passed away surrounded by the love of her devoted husband of over 50 years and her three children on Friday, October 19, 2018, at Savannah Court of Lake Oconee after a prolonged battle with early onset Alzheimer’s.
Lynn was born on September 20, 1946, in Jacksonville, FL, to the late Essie Jo and Harold Coppins. She grew up in Gainesville, FL. After graduating from Gainesville High School, Lynn attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, for two years before transferring to the University of Georgia in Athens where she received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
While at UGA, Lynn was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, and she met her future husband while playing outside her sorority house in the first snowfall she had ever experienced. Billy’s fraternity house was next door, and he found it amusing to see a coed playing so joyfully in the snow, so he struck up a conversation with her. Billy and Lynn were married on June 15, 1968, in Gainesville, FL, then began their life together in Athens while Billy finished veterinary school and Lynn taught school in Pendergrass, GA. After Billy completed veterinary school, they moved to Greensboro and remained there for over 50 years.
Lynn was a passionate teacher and taught elementary school for many years at Gatewood Schools in Eatonton, Nathanael Greene Academy in Siloam, and later John Milledge Academy in Milledgeville. For a time, she left the teaching profession and worked as an administrative assistant/receptionist for a local dentist office.
Lynn was very active in many activities, particularly at NGA where she served for many years as cheerleading sponsor and official scorekeeper for basketball and softball during her children’s high school years.
Although she grew up in the heart of Florida Gator country to parents who were lifelong fans of the Orange and Blue, Lynn became a Georgia Bulldog through and through. Billy and Lynn have been UGA Football season ticket holders for their entire married life, and traveled to see the Dawgs play every game, home, away, and to many bowl game destinations for years. Lynn’s Bulldog spirit and love for all things Red and Black were contagious and unwavering. She followed all other Bulldog sports passionately, including attending men’s and women’s basketball games, gymnastics meets, and tennis matches. But her true love was football, and for years to every game she carried a cowbell she had a handle welded on to ring after any Georgia score or big play.
Lynn dedicated her life to providing her three children with every opportunity to participate in sports and other school sponsored activities from early childhood through high school. She tirelessly made trips to Athens for gymnastic practices and tennis lessons and traveled anywhere necessary for meets and tournaments. When her children suited up for the NGA Patriots during their high school careers, Lynn was sure to be there, always serving as the official bookkeeper for basketball and softball games, and driver to track meets and tennis matches. Lynn was the true definition of a “team mom” before that term was coined.
Lynn is survived by her husband, Dr. Edwin G. (Billy) Copelan, Jr.; her son Edwin G. (Billy) Copelan III (Christie) of St. Simons Island; her two daughters Callie Copelan Luskus (Joe) of Cumming and Mary Jo Copelan Nugent (Penn) of Raleigh; and her eight grandchildren, whom she adored: Carrie Copelan and Kendall Copelan of St. Simons Island; Noah Luskus, Mallory Luskus, and Sarah Luskus of Cumming; and Harrison Nugent, Logan Nugent, and Ansley Nugent of Raleigh.
The family would like to thank all of the staff at Savannah Court of Lake Oconee for the wonderful care provided to Lynn over the last two plus years, as well as the excellent care from the nurses of Homestead Hospice.
