Thomas D. Copeland “TC”

Thomas Dewey Copeland was born January 28, 1949 in Anniston, Alabama. He received a loving embrace and was taken into the bosom of our Lord and Savior on February 4, 2021 at the age of 72.

Thomas confessed Jesus Christ as his Savior at an early age and was baptized into the Kingdom of Eternal Life at eight years of age. He read and studied holy scriptures daily and remained faithful to the Heavenly Father to the very end of his life, and served as an example of great moral courage. 

As a young teen, Thomas relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio and was educated in the Cincinnati Public School District. He attended Bloom Jr. High School and is a proud alum of Robert A. Taft High School. As a high school student, he participated in many extracurricular activities and sports including basketball and football. After high school, he attended Xavier University and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. Thomas was one of the first African-Americans to receive Certification from the Engineering Division of Microsoft.

As a young man, Thomas was very passionate about community activism and participated in protesting for civil rights and improved race relations. “Power to the People,” resonated with him and was evident in all of his actions toward the community. His time spent celebrating and supporting members of the West End Community through philanthropy is everlasting.

Thomas worked in the neighborhood schools as an Education Specialist, where he worked tirelessly to change curriculum, the selection of text books, class size, and other factors that had a negative influence on the students. He was eternally proud of the fact that he was the product of the Black Community and knew that instilling Black Pride in younger generations was key to progress.

Thomas’ professional experience included several entrepreneurial endeavors over the years as well as his body of work in technology and architectural design. His resume included years of outstanding service with the Powell Valve and Lukenheimer Valve Companies. After many years of succeeding as a building architect, he retired from the Building Technologies Division of Armco Steel, and to this day, steel building structures that he helped to design remain in production.

In 1969, Thomas married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Yvonne Moon. She is the absolute love of his life, and, together, they celebrated 53 years of matrimony on this very day February 14. God richly blessed their union with two children, his one-and-only son, Ty, and his devoted baby girl, Ericka. 

Thomas loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He valued his family and they were the priority and focus of his life.  Thomas spent a lot of time grooming his children and grands to have a strong sense of pride, to embrace their culture and history, to extend love and kindness to all, and to serve others. His legacy is in good hands!

He enjoyed all genres of music, live performances of his favorite artists, and indulging in movies and sports; as a sports aficionado, he especially enjoyed football and horse racing.

Thomas’ family will continue to keep his remembrance alive, including his contagious laughter, captivating smile, love of his community, and fearless leadership. 

Thomas is sadly, but lovingly, missed by his wife of 53 years, Joyce Moon Copeland, their son, Tyronne Orlanda Copeland, their daughter, Ericka Luchielle Copeland, four grandchildren Micaiah D. Copeland, Jeremiyah L. Hairston, Jairus M. Copeland, and Kezia V. Copeland, two brothers-in-law, Roey Moon (Sharron) and Ralph Moon Jr. (Karen), two brothers, Gordon Brent Gannaway and James Favors, and two sisters, Evette Favors, and Flora J. Green.

He also has many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, neighbors, friends, and associates.

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