Edsel Carroll Copeland

Abingdon, VA – Edsel Carroll Copeland, age 67, passed on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Edsel was born in Cullman, AL and was a Graduate of Jefferson State University. In 1986, he and his family moved to Abingdon after accepting a position at Bristol Compressors where he was employed for many years. Edsel later worked at Omni Source in Johnson City, TN and was a member of Abingdon Church of Christ. He enjoyed bear hunting, camping, and restoring antique cars. Edsel is preceded in death by his parents, Edsel Loyd Copeland and Veneda Young Smithson; and brothers, Randy Loyd Copeland, Robert Copeland, and Ronnie Green. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Phyllis Copeland; four children, David Edsel Copeland of Bristol, VA, Sherry Parker and husband Joey of Hahira, GA, Candace Waldron of Abingdon, VA, and Joshua Copeland of Abingdon, VA; brother, Roger Lee Copeland of Cullman, AL; sister, Ann Askea and husband Steve of Cullman, AL; and grandchildren, Hunter, Tyler, and Trevor Parker, and Caden and Julia Waldron. Visitation with the family will be held 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 28, 2015, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. Funeral services will follow at 7:00 p.m. with Ministers Bill Haywood and Joe Scroggin officiating. A graveside committal service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, in Forest Hills Memory Gardens where Robbie Carbary, Joey Watson, Zeke Fugate, Tommy Woods, Mike Barker, Mike Denton, and Jim Braun will serve as pallbearers. Those wishing to travel in procession to the cemetery are asked to convene at the funeral home by 12:30 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 338 Main Avenue 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851, in Mr. Copeland’s name. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The family of Mr. Copeland is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.