Sermon Central
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Funeral Service For Shirley Copeland
Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Aug 6, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: I preached this funeral for my bishop because he was officiating his own mother's funeral on the same day. This was his cousin. It has been a wonderful dream to follow him in the pastorate and in ministry. 8/7/2020
Shirley Copeland Funeral
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are here this morning to celebrate the life of and grieve the loss of Shirley. We need your help. Your promise is that You are the Comforter. You have promised that you suffer along with us. You know what it is like to be human, to grieve, to lose, and even to die. Please come alongside us by Your Spirit and help us through this day. In Jesus Name.
Eulogy
Shirley Rose Copeland, age 66, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2020, at Memorial Hermann in Humble. She was born November 19, 1953, in Houston to Glennis Ray and Roselee Blackburn. She graduated from Aldine High School in 1972 and married Charles Wesley Copeland the same year on June 16, in Houston. Shirley loved to work. From being a beautician, working in the bank, to working in annuities, she could do anything. Shirley also enjoyed doing things around her home such as cooking, potting flowers, and sitting on the patio in the evening. She was a sightseer. She and Charles would regularly take trips to the country to visit family. Shirley is survived by her husband of 48 years, Charles Copeland, Shane, and Trisha Copeland, Maritha and John Phillips, Ciara Blackburn, Johnathan Blackburn, numerous nieces and nephews, and an abundance of friends.
Note From Bishop Roger Blackburn to His Family
"For me, Shirley was fun loving and a joy to be around. In the summertime when young, it was unbelievable how much time we spent together. When grandma was alive, she often was at their house, especially at Christmas.
As years past, they moved to the Aldine area. I was so blessed to walk the halls of Aldine HS with her. We were always spending time together and, when we were together it was special. Everyone loved Shirley. The past few days I had school mates that heard and wrote saddened at her loss.
One of the many highlights of our relation was being in their wedding. I will miss her: kind words, compassion spirit and loving heart. I feel loss so strong today as we bury my mother and my sweet Shirley. Tell my family I truly am sorry for not being able to speak for her and minister at her funeral. I would have and yet was unable because today I will be at my mom's. Please tell them I love them and how much they all mean to me!"
Love Roger
Words of Comfort
There are so many things that could be said about Shirley.
Trisha had this to say:
"The one thing I can say about my mother in law is that she loved her son with all her heart and would do anything for him or myself. Shane and her would talk everyday."
We are gathered here today to grieve the loss of Shirley. All those who knew her will miss her. She was so many things to so many of you. She was a wife, a mother, a mother-in-law, an aunt, a sister, a friend, a confidant, someone whose advice was treasured. I have heard that she made the best jalapeno jelly around. I am guessing that she could cook some other things that someone might say were their favorites as well. You probably have some beautiful memories around the table.
She had a gigantic smile and kind eyes and the warmest of embraces. She was one of a kind.
We do not see what heaven sees and her impact on this world will not be told until the final days of the world. Our influence goes on. Who knows how her kindness and goodness affected all the people she interacted with during each phase of her life where she worked in so many areas. A smile can change the world.
God smiled on this world when He gave it Shirley. God smiled on you when He gave you her for a wife, for a mother, for a sister, for an aunt. And His smile is evident in hers. His embrace is evident in hers. I’m sure if you ever experienced her smile or her hug or her phone call on a daily basis that you will never forget it. God allows the sun to come up every day. He is smiling at us.
We don’t understand the storms of life. We don’t understand the places where the sunshine seems to be obscured with the darkest of clouds. And the darkest cloud in life is the cloud like the one that is hiding Shirley from us this morning—the cloud of death.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
