Ms. Sarah Kathryn Copeland

Sarah Kathryn Copeland, 94 of Plant City, Florida, passed from this life March 17, 2025, due to complications suffered from a fall. She was just a couple of weeks shy of her 95th birthday. Sarah was born in Dasher, Georgia April 2, 1930, and was the seventh child and only daughter born to John Virgil and Lilla Quartman Touchton Copeland. She spent her childhood years working on the farm with her brothers and attended Dasher Bible School (now Georgia Christian School.) She was very athletic and enjoyed playing softball and basketball throughout her high school years. She left Georgia to pursue her education at various colleges including, David Lipscomb, Florida College, and Harding University. Upon receiving her degree, she returned home to teach at her alma mater and later at Clyattville Elementary and Lowndes County High School. It was during this time she received a call from Tomlin Middle School in Plant City, Florida to teach Physical Education. It did not take long for Sarah to begin thriving in Plant City and soon decided to call it home. She pursued both teaching and coaching at Tomlin until she retired 31 years later. She remained active playing tennis and teaching many how to swim long after her retirement. Her love for sports soon led her to become an avid Tampa Bay Rays fan. She enjoyed watching them and could share details about how each player performed. One of her Rays highlights was meeting “Raymond” the Rays mascot at one of the games she attended and even got a picture with him! She also loved to walk and often encouraged those at Grace Manor to join her. She remained active until just a couple of weeks before her death. Sarah never met a stranger – in fact, most everyone in Plant City remembered her and stopped to speak whenever she was in town. This thrilled her especially when it was one of her students! She was actively involved in the Strawberry Festival and enjoyed stemming strawberries in preparation for it, along with parking vehicles. She also enjoyed attending the annual Fashion Show with friends from her local church. She was a long-time care giver to her friend Vonelle Smith Miles Robinson. They shared a passion for cats, and Sarah quickly became “mom” to Snow, Tabby, and Cutie. Sarah was also one of the most generous individuals. She spent tireless hours working with her hands to make different items from wood. She enjoyed personalizing each of them and giving them as gifts to those she loved. She was known to walk around the church building with money in her hands for someone she thought was in need. Sharing what she had with others was what made her the happiest! The only thing Sarah loved more than this part of her life, was her love for God and her church family at the Plant City church of Christ. She never missed a service unless she was sick or physically unable. Even during her last weeks on earth, she was dressed for church services early and waiting on her ride. Sarah wanted everyone to know about Jesus Christ and was often inviting friends and even strangers to church with her. She listened to tapes and CDs of previous sermons and created a “Bookmark” with scriptures mapping out what a person should do for salvation. She loved reading her Bible, singing hymns, and worshiping the Lord. “Going to worship services” was the highlight of her week. If you look at her Bible, there is not a page in it without numerous notes she has written over the years. Her love and dedication to the Lord was evident in the life she lived. Although she remained single throughout her life, Sarah cultivated a family in the hearts of her students, colleagues and throughout the Plant City Community. Sarah will be missed by her friends, former students, and the church family she loved so dearly. Sarah is proceeded in death by her parents John and Lilla Copeland; Brothers, John Virgil, Jr., Derrell, Julian, Prewitte, Griffin and Robert Copeland, and many nieces, nephews. Hopewell Funeral Home is managing funeral arrangements. A visitation will be held on Monday, March 24 from 6-8 P.M. at Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at 11:00 A.M at Church of Christ, Plant City. Committal to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Plant City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Georgia Bible Camp, Georgia Christian School, or Florida College. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Ms. Sarah Kathryn Copeland

April 2, 1930 - March 17, 2025

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Ms. Sarah Kathryn Copeland

April 2, 1930 - March 17, 2025

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