Jimmie Lee Copeland

She was born October 16, 1934, as Jimmie Lee Jimerson. She became Jimmie Lee Williams with her marriage to her children’s father, Bill Williams, in November 1952. Some time after her divorce from Bill, she married Gene Copeland. In heaven she joined Bill and Gene, her father, mother, and brother, as well as three of her children, Mitchell Williams, Caryl Williams Tischberek, and Billie Deanna Williams (Patrick). Her grandson, Damon Young, preceded her to heaven in 2016.

Besides cousins and nieces and nephews, Jimmie is survived by her daughter Leslie (Williams) Young-Glass of Oroville, CA, and her sister Charlane (Jimerson) Leslie, of Las Vegas, NV. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Matt Mulgrew, Jan (Mulgrew) Salsedo, Melissa (Young) Serekilevu, Shannon (Williams) Wrzeski, Kamrae (Williams) Elliott, Shayne Patrick, Anesia (Zeller) McIlvoy, Kalena (Zeller) Edwards, along with 19 great-grandchildren.

Jimmie was a single mom, most of the time, who raised four children. She worked as a waitress off and on at the local Rice Bowl to make ends meet. She was good at bookkeeping and worked for Kern County as an accounting clerk (road department) and payroll clerk (Kern General Hospital/now KMC). She processed the TANF grants for Community Connection for Child Care (CCCC) and drove their van when needed to take co-workers to seminars, meetings, etc. (Class B CDL). For nearly ten years, she ran a Women's Recovery Home called House of Shalom, providing support and guidance to women seeking recovery in a Christian-based environment. She touched countless lives through her ministry, offering hope and a helping hand to those who needed it most. She was also an accomplished pianist and shared her talent with the community, regularly playing the piano in church. She attained a pilot's license and a minister's license and even officiated a few weddings.

Her life was a testament to compassion, strength, and a rooted faith in God. Jimmie's memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing her. May she rest in peace.