There had been plenty during his seven years in office: a deadly, devastating tornado; the coronavirus pandemic; neglected roads that the city could not afford to fix.
But Smiths Station pulled through.
Mr. Copeland had devised a plan to pay for repaving roads.
Many in the city would have welcomed it.
Then, on Nov. 3, sheriff’s deputies, who had been called by worried friends of Mr. Copeland to check on him, trailed him until he pulled over miles from Smiths Station and fatally shot himself.
Persons:
F.L, Copeland Jr, Bubba, Copeland, Copeland’s
Organizations:
Smiths, Sims, Smiths Station
Locations:
Ala, Alabama