CARMELLA YVONNE HARRIS HURSTON: A Gallery of Precious Moments

 March 26, 1929  -  April 6, 2025

 Mrs. Dorothy Copeland, 96, of Lagrange departed on Sunday in Lithonia, GA.

Dorothy Copeland, the daughter of the late Floyd and Susie Gates was born in Lagrange. She was one of the oldest and devoted members of Eastside Baptist Church & retired from  LaGrange High School.

She leaves to cherish her memory: Sons; William Copeland (Dynette), Kennedy Copeland (Michelle), Matthew Copeland (Monique), Daughters; Grace Brown (Andrew), Dorothy Maddox (the late Hillard Maddox), Katherine Shaw (Frank), Connie Copeland over 20 Grandchildren, over 60 Great-Grandchildren, over 10 Great-Great-Grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death in addition to her parents by her loving husband Willie Copeland, children, Clarence Freeman, Jr. and Patricia Copeland Sheppard. She will always be remembered as “Mom Dot.”

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 3 PM at Eastside Baptist Church with Rev. Michael P. Stiggers officiating.

 The interment will be in Restlawn Memory Gardens.

Chapel public viewing will be held on Friday from 5 PM- 7 PM. Family will receive friends at the home of her son William Copeland at 952 ½ Mason Street.

A service of Loving & Caring by The Historic Mackey-Wilson-Jennings FH .

   Saturday, April 12, 2025 

3 PM 

Eastside Baptist Church

1016 Mason Street

Lagrange, Georgia 30241 

 Rev. Michael P. Stiggers, Pastor

 Officiating

 The interment 

Restlawn Memory Gardens

2098 Mooty Bridge Road

Lagrange, Georgia 30240

Anthony Darcell Stephens was born on Saturday, February 22, 1958, to the late Paul Stephens and Mattie Ruth Jennings Stephens Barnes, at the City County Hospital in LaGrange, Georgia. Anthony accepted Christ Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at the Solomon Grove Missionary Baptist Church at a young age. He attended Sunday School and participated in the annual Easter and Christmas pageants, Junior Choir and Missionary Auxiliary where his foundation in public speaking began. 

In 2005, he joined Tranquil AME Church in Douglasville, Georgia where he served diligently and faithfully as a Trustee until his passing. Anthony attended Thomastown and East Depot Elementary Schools in LaGrange, GA, Wickford Elementary in North Kingston, Rhode Island, LaGrange Boys Junior High then Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1976 with honors and Varsity Letters in baseball, soccer and football. He received scholarships and acceptance to Dartmouth College, Dillard University, Gustavus Adolphus College, Howard University, Knoxville College, Morehouse College and Ohio State University. He selected Gustavus Adolphus College and began his post-secondary education in Saint Peter, Minnesota. Anthony Stephens was initiated into the Psi Chapter University of Minnesota of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on June 4, 1978. 

He later joined the Richfield-Bloomington (MN) Alumni Chapter where he served as Keeper of Exchequer (Treasurer) before moving to Atlanta. He earned an internship with the Small Business Administration in Minneapolis. The internship led to a job offer from the IBM Corporation. After over twenty years at IBM in Minneapolis, Anthony longed to return home to Georgia and transferred to IBM’s Atlanta location. Anthony continued to work for an additional twenty years and received a myriad of prestigious awards and accolades for his service before retiring from IBM after forty-one years of service. He received the Outstanding Business Leadership Award from IBM in October of 2006. In addition to his professional achievements, Anthony found great joy in his personal pursuits. As a passionate baseball enthusiast, he loved to coach and umpire games. He remained a lifelong, dedicated Atlanta Braves fan. He always found peace and creativity in cultivating his garden and spent many cherished moments grilling and enjoying quality time with his family. 

He leaves to cherish his memory and celebrate his legacy, his loving wife Lisa Stephens; four children: Shanesta D. and Stephanie D. Stephens, Julian and Natalia Santiago; two grandchildren: Londyn Marie and Adalynn Harper Santiago; two sisters: Chinaester Patrice Stephens (Harold) Holland and Petronila Barnes (Robert) George; two nieces: Ashley Brianna Holland and Victoria Elizabeth Holland; two nephews: Michael Oliver and Jamari (Yfosi) Barnes; one great-niece: Jordi Lilani Barnes; four aunts: Annie Doris Witcher, Iradean Heard, Linda M. Jennings and Denise Cotton; special friends: Eugene "Nicky" (Toni) Wimby, Chico Cotton, Wayne Bryant along with a host of loving and supportive cousins, relatives and friends.

June 27, 2026

Saturday

Southview Cemetery 

Hamilton Road

Lagrange, Georgia  30241

02/22/1958  -  06/18/2-25