Gloria Copeland

Gloria Ann Copeland, age 76, of Hilliard, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at her residence.  She was joyfully reunited in heaven with Edward, her beloved husband of 53 years.  Gloria Ann Castleberry was born on May 11, 1943, in Anderson, South Carolina.  She graduated from The University of Missouri with her Bachelors of Arts in English and Secondary Education.  Gloria began her career as a teacher in Peoria, Illinois and continued as a high school English teacher in Kentucky and Ohio until 1987.  God called Edward and Gloria into full time ministry in 1977, where she faithfully served in many different volunteer ministry positions in the churches Edward pastored. She was actively involved in Women’s Missionary Union for over 45 years.  In 1997, she accepted God’s call as the Women’s Ministries Director for the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, where she served until she retired in 2002.  She was a longtime member of Dublin Baptist Church.  She enjoyed teaching English as a Second Language and received the Distinguished Service Award from The Columbus Dispatch for her volunteer leadership in literacy missions.  Above all else, Gloria’s love for God was evident in all she did and she dedicated her whole life to faithfully serving God and others. 

 Gloria is preceded in death by parents Logan Richard Castleberry and Annie Louise (Watson).  She is survived by daughters Julia (Morgan) Gierman and Jennifer (Christopher) Pond, grandchildren Emily and Zach Pollard, Hannah and Hailey Pond, Laura (Luke) Smith, Isabelle, Morgan, Eleanor, Ben, Ruby Kate and Josiah Gierman; as well as her sister, Jacque Hukill and niece, Kem Hukill.  Family will receive friends from 4:30-6:30 PM on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Tidd Funeral Home, 5265 Norwich Street, Hilliard, Ohio 43026.  Funeral service will be held at Dublin Baptist Church, 7195 Coffman Rd, Dublin, OH 43017 at 10 AM Monday, January 20, 2020 with Rev. Tom Dove officiating.  Private family interment at Wesley Chapel Cemetery will follow the service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) at wmufoundation.com.