Awards and Honors

Mrs. Copeland receives an award with her pastor and Raleigh Housing Authority Executives

Mrs. Copeland received her first award in the early ‘50’s. Many have followed including:

President Clinton's Point of Light Award in 1993 for creative and effective volunteer work to inspire the lives of residents of Chavis Heights. US Senator Jessie Helms commented in a congratulatory letter, “I would like to offer my thanks to you for the many hundreds of hours that you have unselfishly given in service to others. And I want to congratulate you for a well-deserved recognition that you have received.”
	“I would like to offer my thanks to you for the many hundreds of hours that you have unselfishly given in service to others. And I want to congratulate you for a well-deserved recognition that you have received.” US Senator Jessie Helms

President’s Volunteer Award  as one who recognizes, inspires, and encourages exemplary volunteer community service directed at solving serious social problems in the community

• Director of the Copeland Center since 1988 providing assistance to Chavis Heights residents and an after school program for students
• Rosa Parks Tradition Award from the Raleigh Women’s Center as a woman whose life has demonstrated concern for the needs of women, particularly women of color, whose actions have contributed to positive social change and awareness in the community

Click on picture to see detail.

• 12 years of service on the board of the Raleigh Housing Authority, vice-chairman for 4
• Raleigh Housing Authority recognition with numerous awards including Region IV Public Housing Recognition Award, volunteer awards for outstanding community service, Volunteer of the Year, and Outstanding Resident
• Raleigh Housing Authority Scholarship Fund established in Mrs. Copeland’s honor in grateful appreciation for her vision and leadership on behalf of Raleigh’s children
• City Council of the City of Raleigh awarded her numerous commendations for outstanding community service
• Rush Metropolitan AME Zion Church Outstanding Service Award as a pillar of the community who has withstood the test of time. One who speaks out for what is right
• Extended Parent Family of the Year award as an Outstanding Example of Strengths of the Black Family
• Gethsemane S.D.A. Church award for outstanding community service
• Raleigh Ushers Union 1999 appreciation for continuous work and unselfish contributions
• 1998 Certificate of Appreciation in appreciation of valuable contributions to Maple Temple for 50 or more years
• Gethsemane Seventh-Day Adventist Church 1997 award for outstanding leadership and community service throughout Wake County
• Garner Road YMCA 1997 Personal Achievement Award for outstanding effort to improve the Southeast Raleigh community and for years of continuing devotion to help all children
• Shaw University Peers as Partners Project 1996-1997 Community Service Award
• 1996 certified as a Community Health Advocate by the Health Empowerment Advocacy Program
• 1996 inductee into the African American Cultural Complex Hall of Distinction for Outstanding Contributions made for the advancement of human rights and development of African Americans
• WFC Coalition for Positive Change Interdenominational Teens Retreat 1996 Service Award in acknowledgment of consecrated efforts to serve God by accepting the challenge to enrich the lives of young girls and women who live in a society which has become an increasingly hostile environment, and by providing an abundance of Christian and Spiritual experiences deeply rooted in Faith and grounded in Love, and a commitment to live out the will of God by leading people into the Family of God
• 1995-96 Peers as Partners (PAP) recognition for Outstanding Participation and Commitment
• Academy of Women Volunteer Award 1995 nominee  in recognition of outstanding achievement and contributions to the community
• Raleigh Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity 1995 Citizen of the Year
• New Bethel United Church of Christ 1995 award for lifelong community service
• Omnicron Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority 1993 World Class Community Service Award
• Music Director from 1949-1993 for Maple Temple Youth Choirs and the Leola Haywood Choir
• State of North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety Crime Prevention Division recognition of crime prevention activities
• Friends Committee Against the Spread of Drugs and AIDS 1992 award for inspiring their efforts to stop the spread of drugs and AIDS in Southeast Raleigh
• Eta Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity 1992 Social Action Award in grateful appreciation for dedication and devotion in providing human services unselfishly to Raleigh and Wake County’s greatest resource, their citizens
• Raleigh-Wake Citizen’s Association 1991 Human Services Award
• North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service 1990 award for volunteer service and support of the expanded food and nutrition education program
• African-American Historical and Genealogical Society 1989 award for many contributions to African-Americans in North Carolina. Her unselfishness has enriched the soil from which strong African-American families grow
• Governor James Martin 1988 letter of recognition “You join the family of more that 800 dedicated members from every corner of North Carolina – advocates committed to the belief that all families have strengths regardless of their present condition and that strengthening families can be assisted by focusing and building upon their positive qualities…I commend you for coming forward to work on the enrichment of your family and to help other families to become stronger in their relationships too…Indeed the family is our future and our potential for progress. You, my friend, are making the difference now, right here in North Carolina, building on family strengths. Well done.”
• Omnicron Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority 1984 Woman of the Year
• Iota Iota Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity 1984 Citizen of the Year Award for outstanding service to the Raleigh community
• Maple Temple United Church of Christ 1983 sincere gratitude for dedicated service in reaching and teaching persons through Sunday School