Benjamin Riddick Copeland, Jr., 84, passed away on March 19, 2013. Ben was looking forward to his 85th birthday on March 30th. A native of Nansemond County, VA he was the son of the late Benjamin R. Copeland, Sr. and Annie Virginia Bosselman Copeland. He was predeceased by his wife Marjorie Brinkley Copeland and his brother, Bobby Copeland. Ben retired as a 1st class machinist specialist for the maintenance department of the Newport News Shipyard. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Thurman Hayes Sunday School class. Ben was a devoted member of the Gideons International and involved in their summer camp. He was a member and past president of the Holland Ruritan Club.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law: Benjamin "Benjie" R. Copeland, III and Joyce Copeland; his daughter and son-in-law Sheila and Tommy Griffin, all of Windsor, VA; three grandchildren and spouses: April and Jerry Griffith, Jason and Amy Copeland and Brittany Copeland; three great grandchildren: MacKenzie, Morgan and Scooter; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Virginia Ann and Bob Kues and Edith Fischer; a brother and sisters-in-laws Frederick A. and Betty Copeland and Barbara Copeland; step-children: Linda and Clyde "Bucky" Kelly, Jr., Brenda and Ronnie Shuler, Clifton C. and Sandra Brinkley, Michael and Debbie Brinkley and William "Billy" and Kathy Brinkley; and numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr. and Rev. Charles Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Western Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. Friends may join the family for visitation at Parr Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 7 – 8 p.m. and other times at the residence of Benjie and Joyce Copeland. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International, Suffolk Gideon Camp, P. O. Box 1214, Suffolk, VA 23439-1214 or First Baptist Church, 237 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com