Bubba Copeland
{{Short description|American politician (1974–2023)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name =
| image = Bubba Copeland.jpg
| office = Mayor of Smiths Station
| party = Republican
| termstart = November 7, 2016
| termend = November 3, 2023
| predecessor = LaFaye Dellinger
| birth_name = Fred L. Copeland Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|05|27}}{{cite web |title=Mr. F. L. Bubba Copeland Jr. |url=https://vancebrooksfuneralhome.net/obituary/mr-f-l-bubba-copeland-jr/ |website=Vance Brooks Funeral Home |access-date=2023-11-05 |archive-date=2023-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105210419/https://vancebrooksfuneralhome.net/obituary/mr-f-l-bubba-copeland-jr/ |url-status=dead }}
| birth_place = Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|11|03|1974|05|27}}
| death_place = Beulah, Alabama, U.S.
| death_cause = Suicide by gunshot
| children = 3
| spouses = {{marriage|Angela Gail Simpson|2018}}
}}
Fred L. "Bubba" Copeland (May 27, 1974 – November 3, 2023) was an American politician and pastor who served as mayor of Smiths Station, Alabama, from 2016 until his{{efn|Copeland took he/him pronouns publicly and sometimes took she/her pronouns privately. At the time of his death he had disavowed the latter; this article uses he/him pronouns accordingly.}} suicide in 2023.
Career
Copeland served on the Lee County Board of Education, representing District 5, which includes the Smiths Station school zone, from 2005 to 2016, when he announced his candidacy for mayor. Copeland previously considered running for mayor in 2012 but decided not to because the incumbent mayor, LaFaye Dellinger, was seeking re-election.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Chuck |date=June 2016 |title='Bubba' Copeland to challenge sitting Smiths Station mayor |work=Columbus Ledger-Inquirer |url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article82102142.html}}
Two weeks after Copeland's announcement, Dellinger announced that she would not seek re-election, citing health and family reasons.[https://www.wtvm.com/story/32285101/smiths-station-first-mayor-says-she-wont-seek-re-election/ Smiths Station first mayor says she won't seek re-election] Dellinger endorsed Copeland as her replacement for mayor.{{Cite news |date=August 12, 2016 |title=Smiths Station Mayor endorses replacement candidate |work=WTVM |url=https://www.wtvm.com/story/32742958/smiths-station-mayor-endorses-replacement-candidate/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}} Copeland won the August 23, 2016 election, defeating Buster Bessant to become the second mayor in the city's history. He was re-elected in 2020.{{cite news |title=New Smiths Station mayor officially sworn into office |url=https://www.wtvm.com/story/33656783/new-smiths-station-mayor-officially-sworn-into-office/ |access-date=November 4, 2023 |work=WTVM |date=November 8, 2016}}
In March 2019, a violent EF4 tornado ripped through eastern Alabama and western Georgia, killing 23 people across Lee County and causing major damage in Smiths Station.{{Cite news |date=March 6, 2019 |title=Deadly tornadoes bring 'unbelievable devastation' |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/04/weather/gallery/southeast-tornadoes/index.html |access-date=November 5, 2023}}{{Cite news |last1=Waldock |first1=Julie |last2=Jones |first2=Alex |date=March 3, 2019 |title=23 dead in Lee County, AL after multiple tornadoes hit the Chattahoochee Valley |work=WTVM |url=https://www.wtvm.com/2019/03/03/watch-live-now-severe-weather-chattahoochee-valley/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}} Copeland met with President Donald Trump as well as U.S. Senators Doug Jones and Richard Shelby when they toured the damaged communities in the following days.{{Cite magazine |last=Bethea |first=Charles |date=March 6, 2019 |title=A Mayor in Alabama Surveys the Damage of a Deadly Tornado |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/as-told-to/a-mayor-in-alabama-surveys-the-damage-of-a-deadly-tornado |access-date=November 5, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Chuck |date=March 8, 2019 |title=Smiths Station Mayor Bubba Copeland gets face time with the president |work=WRBL |url=https://www.wrbl.com/news/local-news/smiths-station-mayor-bubba-copeland-gets-face-time-with-the-president/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}} For Copeland's service as mayor during the tornado, the East Alabama Chamber of Commerce awarded him their "Individual of the Year of Award" in 2020.{{Cite news |date=February 19, 2020 |title=Smiths Station Mayor F.L. 'Bubba' Copeland receives 'Individual of the Year Award' |work=Opelika Observer |url=https://opelikaobserver.com/smiths-station-mayor-f-l-bubba-copeland-receives-individual-of-the-year-award/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}} He entered the city into an intergovernmental agreement with Fort Benning in 2022.{{Cite news |last=DuBois |first=Denise |date=July 13, 2022 |title=Smiths Station, Fort Benning enter into agreement |work=Citizen of East Alabama |url=https://www.citizenofeastalabama.com/news/local/smiths-station-fort-benning-enter-into-agreement/article_b0c96f16-02af-11ed-9b61-4f84b40a1349.html}}{{Cite news |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Smiths Station Reaches Intergovernmental Agreement |work=Opelika Observer |url=https://opelikaobserver.com/smiths-station-reaches-intergovernmental-agreement/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
Copeland also served as a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Phenix City{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/fl-bubba-copeland-alabama-mayor-and-pastor-kills-himself.html|title=F.L. 'Bubba' Copeland, Alabama mayor and pastor, kills himself|last=Koplowitz|first=Howard|work=AL.com|date=November 3, 2023}} and owned The Country Market, a retail grocery business in Salem.
A member of the Republican Party, he endorsed incumbent Kay Ivey in the Republican primary for the 2022 Alabama gubernatorial election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2022/04/five-east-alabama-mayors-endorse-ivey-for-reelection|title=Five East Alabama mayors endorse Ivey for reelection|last=Ly|first=My|work=The Plainsman|date=April 21, 2022}}
Personal life
Copeland was born in Columbus, Georgia, but lived in Smiths Station for most of his life. He attended Smiths Station High School and received a hotel and restaurant management degree from Auburn University.[https://www.smithsstational.gov/mayor-and-city-council/ MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL]
Copeland was married to Angela Simpson Copeland, a teacher and cheer coach at Smiths Station Junior High School. He had one biological child, a son from his first marriage, as well as two stepdaughters from his second marriage.[https://www.lee.k12.al.us/domain/3087 Mrs. Angela Copeland]
=Outing and death=
On November 1, 2023, journalist Craig Monger of conservative news website 1819 News reported on social media posts by Copeland in which he wore women's clothing and described himself as a "transgender curvy girl" using the name "Brittini Blaire Summerlin".{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/03/alabama-pastor-bubba-trans-curvy-girl/|title=Alabama pastor, mayor defends online pics as trans 'curvy girl; Baptist leaders express 'serious concern'|last=Assuncao|first=Muri|work=New York Daily News|date=November 3, 2023|access-date=November 4, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrbl.com/top-stories/lee-county-sheriff-smiths-station-mayor-bubba-copeland-took-his-own-life/|title=Lee County Sheriff: Smiths Station Mayor Bubba Copeland 'took his own life'|work=WRBL|date=November 3, 2023}} The contents of Copeland's posts allegedly included explicit photos of himself, as well as graphic memes and transgender pornography.
Before the 1819 News report was released, Copeland allegedly gave a private statement to the website, claiming that his behavior was a "hobby" for "getting rid of stress". He also said "I'm not medically transitioning. It's just a bit of a character I'm playing".{{cite web |last1=Rojas |first1=Rick |last2=Marazzi Sassoon |first2=Alessandro |last3=Edmonds |first3=Colbi |title=A Mayor's Suicide Leaves an Alabama City Seeking Answers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/us/alabama-mayor-suicide-smiths-station.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=12 November 2023}} Copeland requested that the article not be published, citing his family and his position as a pastor.{{Cite news |last=Kilander |first=Gustaf |date=November 5, 2023 |title=GOP mayor dies by suicide after cross-dressing revealed by right-wing site |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mayor-bubba-copeland-alabama-suicide-b2441961.html |access-date=November 5, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Yurcaba |first=Jo |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Alabama mayor's apparent suicide underscores the dangers of outing |work=NBC Out |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/alabama-mayors-apparent-suicide-underscores-dangers-outing-rcna123803 |access-date=November 6, 2023}}
Leaders in some of the state's Baptist associations responded to the article with a statement that they had "serious concern" about Copeland's "alleged unbiblical behavior". They added "We are praying for the leaders of the church family as they seek to determine the truth concerning these accusations. As the people of God, we pray for the pastor and his family as well."{{Cite news |last=Luciano |first=Michael |date=November 3, 2023 |title=Mayor Commits Suicide After Conservative Website Publishes Photos of Him in Women's Clothing |work=Mediaite |url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/mayor-commits-suicide-after-conservative-website-publishes-photos-of-him-in-womens-clothing/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
Speaking at First Baptist Church on November 1, Copeland said "Yes, I have taken pictures with my wife in the privacy of our home in an attempt at humor because I know I'm not a handsome man nor a beautiful woman, either."{{Cite news |last=D'Angelo |first=Bob |date=November 4, 2023 |title='Incredibly sad': Mayor of small Alabama city dies after online posts |work=KIRO-TV |url=https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/incredibly-sad-mayor-small-alabama-city-dies-after-online-posts/4MZ7ELT4Z5F3DCX7UZM3U6UEX4/ |access-date=November 5, 2023}} He added, "I've been an object of an internet attack. The article is not who or what I am. ... I apologize for any embarrassment caused by my private and personal life that has become public. This will not cause my life to change. This will not waver my devotion to my family, serving my city, serving my church. I'm thankful for the grace of God and the willingness to forgive. I have nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of things that were said were taken out of context. In conclusion, I love my family. They're number one. And, again, I'm sorry for what my actions have caused."{{Cite news |last=Koplowitz |first=Howard |date=November 4, 2023 |title=F.L. 'Bubba' Copeland, Alabama mayor and pastor, kills himself |work=Alabama Media Group |url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/fl-bubba-copeland-alabama-mayor-and-pastor-kills-himself.html |access-date=November 5, 2023}}
Shortly after the article's publication, Copeland told former Phenix City School Superintendent Larry DiChiara, a friend of his, that he was experiencing "dark days." DiChiara later stated that he had contacted Copeland because he was concerned about his well-being due to "people just relentlessly attacking" him online.{{Cite news |last1=Li |first1=David K. |last2=Silva |first2=Daniella |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Alabama mayor told friends he was facing some "dark days" before he died by suicide |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/-bubba-copeland-death-by-suicide-mental-health-rcna123840 |access-date=November 6, 2023}}
On November 3, another 1819 News article claimed that Copeland had written fiction containing violent fantasies. It also claimed that he republished photos of community members, including minors, online without their consent. One story described a transgender woman's deadly obsession with a local business owner, which the article claimed was based on a real person and business.{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Juliana |date=November 7, 2023 |title=An Alabama mayor ended his life after a website showed pictures of him cross-dressing |work=NPR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107191144/https://www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1210928121/bubba-copeland-alabama-mayor-suicide-cross-dressing-media-ethics |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1210928121/bubba-copeland-alabama-mayor-suicide-cross-dressing-media-ethics |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2023 }} An acquaintance of Copeland's said that he had posted her name and social media photos online; she also recognized the names of local women in Copeland's allegedly fictional stories, calling the writing "disturbing".{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Justin |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Community reaction following Mayor Bubba Copeland controversy, death |work=WTVM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107185452/https://www.wtvm.com/2023/11/07/community-reaction-following-mayor-bubba-copeland-controversy-death/ |url=https://www.wtvm.com/2023/11/07/community-reaction-following-mayor-bubba-copeland-controversy-death/ |archive-date=November 7, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2023 }}
The same day, deputy sheriffs were responding to a request for a welfare check for Copeland when they spotted him driving. A slow pursuit ensued until Copeland pulled over in Beulah, exited his vehicle, and shot himself with a handgun. Copeland's church at Phenix City held a mourning service two days after his death.{{Cite news |last=Garrison |first=Greg |date=November 5, 2023 |title=Bubba Copeland's church gathers to grieve: Funeral services announced for Alabama pastor and mayor |work=Alabama Media Group |url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/bubba-copelands-church-gathers-to-grieve-funeral-services-announced-for-alabama-pastor-and-mayor.html |access-date=November 6, 2023}} Political leaders from the area scheduled a prayer service for him on November 7 at the Phenix City Amphitheatre.{{Cite news |last=Koplowitz |first=Howard |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Phenix City leaders to host prayer service to "lift up" Smiths Station, church after Bubba Copeland's death |work=Alabama Media Group |url=https://www.al.com/news/montgomery/2023/11/phenix-city-leaders-to-host-prayer-service-to-lift-up-smiths-station-church-after-bubba-copelands-death.html |access-date=November 6, 2023}} A funeral was scheduled for November 9 at the First Baptist Church, with a burial set for November 10.{{Cite news |last1=O'Neal |first1=Jatavia |last2=Brown |first2=Justin |date=November 3, 2023 |title=Funeral arrangements set for Smiths Station Mayor |work=WTVM |url=https://www.wtvm.com/2023/11/05/funeral-arrangements-set-smiths-station-mayor/ |access-date=November 6, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Niemietz |first=Brian |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Alabama mayor who died from suicide to be buried Friday |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/06/bubba-copeland-alabama-mayor-pastor-suicide-funeral/ |access-date=November 6, 2023}} Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones later said that the circumstances of Copeland's death were under investigation, though his social media posts were not.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/bubba-copelands-death-focus-of-standard-investigation-not-his-online-posts-sheriff-says.html|title=Bubba Copeland's death focus of standard investigation, not his online posts, sheriff says|last=Gray|first=Jeremy|work=AL.com|date=November 7, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023}}
Copeland's suicide received national attention. Lee County Democratic Party Chairperson Jamie Lowe called Copeland "the backbone of Smiths Station" and condemned "the use of discriminatory and hateful rhetoric to target the personal lives of individuals." Doug Jones, the former U.S. senator from Alabama, described the treatment Copeland received from 1819 News as "sad and disgusting."{{cite web|title=Alabama mayor and pastor Bubba Copeland's death sparks heartbreak, outrage: 'So incredibly sad'|date=4 November 2023 |url=https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/alabama-mayor-and-pastor-bubba-copelands-death-sparks-heartbreak-outrage-so-incredibly-sad.html|publisher=AL.com|accessdate=November 4, 2023}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change| title= 2016 Smiths Station mayoral election{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Ben |title=Council Place 2 seat faces possible runoff in Smiths Station election |url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/politics-government/article97609077.html |access-date=November 5, 2023 |work=Ledger-Enquirer |date=August 24, 2016}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = F. L. "Bubba" Copeland
|votes = 569
|percentage = 73.42
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = John "Buster" Bessant
|votes = 206
|percentage = 26.58
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 775
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change| title= 2020 Smiths Station mayoral election{{cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Mark |title=Here are the Phenix City and Smiths Station candidates on the 2020 election ballots |url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/politics-government/election/article244402462.html |access-date=November 5, 2023 |work=Ledger-Enquirer |date=July 23, 2020}}}}
{{Election box unopposed candidate with party link
|party = Nonpartisan politician
|candidate = F. L. "Bubba" Copeland
}}
{{Election box unopposed total no change}}
{{Election box end}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Copeland, Bubba}}
Category:2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Arizona
Category:21st-century Baptist ministers from the United States
Category:American politicians who died by suicide
Category:Baptists from Alabama
Category:LGBTQ people who died by suicide
Category:Mayors of places in Alabama
Category:Politicians from Columbus, Georgia
Category:People from Lee County, Alabama
Category:School board members in Alabama
Category:Suicides by firearm in Alabama