Laura (Lolly) Harper Copeland

Laura (Lolly) Harper Copeland, 89, formerly of Wooster, Ohio, and Griffin, Georgia, died peacefully on January 26, 2026, at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, North Carolina. She was surrounded by the love of her family and Henry, her beloved husband of 67 years.

Lolly was born on February 18, 1936, in Griffin, Georgia, to Girdean and Cornelia Harper. She and Henry met in fourth grade, and she instantly became, and remained, in Henry’s words, “the apple of his eye”. While in high school, she was a member of the Methodist church and enjoyed cheerleading, basketball, and the student government.

After graduating from Huntingdon College in Alabama in 1958, Lolly taught English briefly in Griffin and married Henry later that year. They moved to New York City, where Lolly worked as the special assistant to the manager of the Empire State Building while Henry completed a year of medical school.

Henry’s continued education took them to Waco, Texas, and then to Ithaca, New York, where they welcomed two children before moving to Wooster, Ohio, in 1966, when he joined the faculty of The College of Wooster. Lolly dedicated herself to their children, while also volunteering at the College, with the nursery school, and as an English tutor to Vietnamese immigrants. Throughout their time in Wooster, they made lifelong friendships. Lolly was an avid tennis player who enjoyed the competition and friendship she found with her doubles team.

Henry became President of the College in 1977 and served in the role for 18 years. Lolly excelled as his trusted partner, establishing regular opportunities for the Board of Trustees’ spouses to visit and get to know the area. Her warmth and intelligence helped to build and sustain these relationships. Lolly had a keen eye for beauty and design, visible in the landscaping and plantings around the college’s campus, and in the dinners and receptions she regularly organized for as many as 800 guests.

She was, somehow, able to remember the names and stories of those whom she met. Years later, parents and alumni recalled her kindness in checking on their children, asking about family members, and keeping up with career changes. She could read a room with extraordinary accuracy and knew immediately who was uncomfortable, and who needed a kind word. She was a gracious hostess, a warm and funny friend, a loving and wise partner to her husband, a devoted mother, and an immensely proud grandmother.

Upon retirement, Lolly and Henry moved to Montreat, North Carolina, where they had enjoyed summers throughout their married life. Retirement gave them time to read – Lolly loved her book clubs – golf, and travel. Lolly was a founding member of the board of directors of the Verner Center for Early Learning, continuing a lifelong passion for the education of young children.

Lolly is preceded in death by her parents and sister Mary and is survived by her husband, Henry, her children Henry “Hank” Drake (Amy) Copeland and Eleanor Copeland (Ed) Weis, and her grandchildren, Audrey Szaby Copeland, Leon Harper Copeland, Lauren Harper Weis, and Caroline Mullin Weis.

The family will gather for a private service in her honor. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Lolly’s memory be sent to the Verner Center for Early Learning at 2586 Riceville Rd, Asheville, NC 28805.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.