Yale – Ronda Samples Copeland, 57, widow of Gene Wayne Copeland, Sr. died December 30, 2008 at her residence. She was born in Lexington, Ky., the daughter of the late Basil Dare and Janetta Covert Samples. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Heather Copeland and friend, Chris Steckel, of Yale, Kimberly Ganas and husband, Christopher, of Rocky Mount, NC, Tammy Rhea and husband, Michael, of Windsor, NC, and Mona Frady and friend, Christopher of Carrsville; four sons, Heath Slavin and wife, Donna, of Ashville, NC, Lee Slavin of Rocky Mount, NC, Gene Copeland, Jr. of Suffolk, and Mack Copeland and wife, Tracy, of Edenton, NC; one brother, Richard Samples and wife, Gloria, of South Carolina; nineteen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 pm Sunday at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Kevin A. Niles officiating. A committal service will follow in Holly Lawn Cemetery, Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Antioch Baptist Church, 20230 Peters Bridge Road, Yale, Va. 23897. www.wrightfuneralhome.org