Gladys Fuller Copeland

Mother Gladys Pernell Fuller Copeland Gladys Pernell Fuller Copeland was born on January 9, 1940 to Robert Berlin Fuller, Sr. and Beatrice Roher Fuller in Chatham, Virginia. Gladys was the first born child of seven children. Gladys was a gifted and anointed child who grew and matured into a tremendous woman of God. She accepted Christ as her Savior under the pastoral leadership of her father, Bishop Robert B. Fuller, Sr., who then was pastor of the First Church of Jesus, in Chatham, Virginia. Gladys received the precious gift of the Holy Spirit at the tender age of nine. From an early age she exuded great faithfulness. Her faithfulness continued when she followed her father to Mt. Zion Way of the Cross, in Callands, Virginia where he served as pastor. This faithfulness permeated every area of her life, from her family to her church, and most of all, to her God. Gladys received her early education in Pittsylvania County school system, where she later graduated from Northside High School. In 1959, she matriculated to Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. After a year at Virginia Union, she traveled to New York City where she met Nathaniel Copeland. After a six month courtship, Nathaniel proposed and they were married by Bishop Melvin Lewis Jones of Mt. Zion Holiness Church in Manhattan, New York where Gladys diligently served as President of the Junior Missionaries. Now living in New York, Gladys would complete her undergraduate studies at the prestigious Hunter College. She studied diligently, and in 1976 she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with honors. Gladys would later join the Bible Way Church in Brooklyn, New York where she served as a faithful member for ten years under the leadership of Bishop Huie L. Rogers. During her years of service, Gladys’ faithfulness shined as a great example of what it means to be a willing, humble and joyful ambassador for Christ in the earth. In 1977, she received a request from the late Bishop William C. Abney, Jr. of Bethel Pentecostal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan to come and establish a child development center. Mother Copeland established the center from the ground up and served as its Director for 10 years. She also began a Basic Bible Class Night where she exercised her ministerial gift of teaching with unparalleled excellence, great fervency and anointing. While in Grand Rapids, God blessed Gladys and Nathaniel with the wonderful gift of a precious baby girl, Tina Marie Lumpkin (Copeland). After 10 years of service at Bethel Pentecostal Church, the Copeland family relocated and eventually settled in the Northern Virginia area. In 1989, Mother Copeland founded the Merrifield Child Development Center of First Baptist Church in Falls Church, Virginia where she served as Director for many years until 2011. While in Virginia, Mother Copeland and her family joined the fellowship of the Bible Way Mother Church in Washington, D.C. under the leadership of Apostle James Silver where she served faithfully for fourteen years. Mother Copeland was a committed member who served in various capacities, including Senior Missionary, President of the Local Women’s Council, President of the International Women’s Council and Young Ladies Congress and teacher at the Bible Way Temple Educational Center. In 2009 at the 52nd Holy Convocation, Bishop Huie L. Rogers of Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Inc., appointed Mother Copeland as International President of the Women’s Council for Bible Way World Wide. She served in this role until God called her home. On June 19, 2012, at Henrico Doctors Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, the earth lost one of its brightest stars. Mother Copeland spent her entire life making her calling and election sure. She lived a purpose driven life and was the walking embodiment of faithfulness and service unto the Lord. She was sold out for the cause of Christ and fulfilled her God-ordained mission as an uncompromising and anointed teacher of God’s Word. She was an Angel on Assignment, sent from above to spread the love of God everywhere she went; reaching endless hearts, touching countless lives and winning many souls to the Glory of the Lord. We shall always remember Mother Gladys Fuller Copeland; a woman of great grace and elegance whose smile was utterly infectious and whose loving spirit inspired many. We celebrate her as a Vessel of Honor and a Shining Light in the Kingdom of God, even as the Lord and the Host of Heaven salutes and welcomes home God’s Crowned Jewel and His precious, faithful servant. We love you beyond measure! Mother Gladys Copeland was preceded in death by her loving father, Bishop Robert B. Fuller, Sr. and mother, Beatrice Fuller. She leaves to cherish her memory, husband Nathaniel Copeland; daughter, Tina Marie Copeland Lumpkin (Madison); two wonderful grandchildren, Madison Charles Lumpkin, II and Michael Chase Lumpkin; three doting brothers, Robert Fuller, Jr. (Delores), David Fuller (Benita), and Alton Fuller (Brenda); three caring sisters, Christine Moss, Celia Hairston (Bill), and Mary Smith; a host of adoring nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and other caring relatives and friends.

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Gladys Fuller Copeland

January 9, 1940 - June 19, 2012