Copeland Pace

Copeland Pace of Birmingham, AL passed away peacefully on August 26th, 2022 at the age of 105. Copeland was one of eleven children born to Simon and Mary Pace in Franklin County, AL, all of whom preceded him in death.

In his early years Copeland loved to play basketball and the guitar at local dances. He could still remember the names of his high school basketball teammates in his final years.

Copeland spent a life of service to others in his civil service jobs with the state of Alabama and with the Federal Department of Labor. He served in the US Army when duty called in WW2.

Copeland married the love of his life, Reba Patton Pace in 1940. They were married for 76 years until Reba passed in 2017.

Copeland was well known for his positive nature, his faith in Jesus Christ, and his gentle humor. He modeled his faith in Christ by serving his community through his civil service work, his work in the church as an ordained Baptist deacon, and through his charitable efforts like delivering Meals on Wheels into his 90s. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially in his garden and on his travels across the country pulling an Airstream trailer. He was well known in his neighborhood for producing beautiful roses, plentiful vegetables, and home-grown tomatoes that he gave away freely to friends and neighbors. He was a huge fan of ice cream and Reba’s homemade desserts and often stated that he would love to have chocolate pie every evening if he could. Copeland was always active, and if there was a project around the house to be done, he would be right there with his tools working on it. In his late 80s the family had tell him to stop getting on the roof to clean out the gutters.

Everyone who met Copeland will remember him for his kindness, his encouraging words, and the love that he shared through his acts of service. He is survived by his two children, Sandra Cox of Birmingham, AL and Randy Pace (wife, Amy) of Saint Simons Island, GA, his four grandchildren, Rodney Cox, Michael Cox, Benjamin Pace, and Elizabeth Morgan, and his five great-grandchildren, Bradley Taylor Cox, Ryan Cox, Kaitlin Cox, Laine Morgan, and Campbell Morgan.

A graveside service will be held at 2pm at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville, AL on Wednesday, August 31st.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for contributions to Meals on Wheels.