Gloria Elizabeth Copeland Lewis

On the morning of Tuesday, April 20, 2021. God decided to call our beloved Gloria Elizabeth Copeland-Lewis affectionately known to all as “Tootsie” to His heavenly home to be with Him. She was the first child born to Abe Copeland Jr. and Mattie Louise Hinton Copeland of Holland, Virginia on May 2, 1948. As a child, “Tootsie” attended Nansemond Training School in Holland, East Suffolk Middle School, and Southwestern High School where she was a lead majorette during her tenure. She graduated from IC Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. After many years of working and raising a family “Tootsie” enrolled at Tidewater Community College where she studied Business Management. She was a member of Zion Christian Church, formerly known as Zion United Church of Christ, where she served in the capacity of usher and choir member. “Tootsie” married Willie “Arnold” Lewis Sr. on November 20, 1966 and from that blessed union, three children were born: Willie Arnold Lewis, Jr., Darren Lewis, and Angela Lewis Parker. After several years, the family relocated to Chesapeake, Virginia, where she was employed by National Linen Service Corporation. Later, she traveled as a Regional Union Representative for the company, where she retired in 2008 after eighteen years of service. After her retirement from the National Linen Service Corporation, she worked at Walmart, as a sales and service representative. “Tootsie” was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She leaves to cherish her dearest memories her husband, Willie Arnold Lewis Sr., three children: Willie Arnold Lewis Jr. “Junie” of Chesapeake VA., Darren “Chum” Lewis (Toni) of Warren, New Jersey and Angela “Toke” Lewis-Parker (Brian) of Prince George, Va., her mother, Mattie L Copeland of Suffolk, Virginia, her grandchildren: Lexus A Lewis, Tyree Scott (Trevon), Ameer A Lewis and nine great grandchildren Also, left to cherish her memories, are her siblings: Major USMC (Ret.) and Federal Service G-15 (Ret.), Garland “Pete” Copeland Sr. (Sonja), of Oceanside, California, Michael Copeland Sr. (Leisha), Christopher Copeland Sr. (Audrey), Dwayne Copeland (Pamela), Rachel “Cakie” Copeland, and Valerie “Zenola” Johnson (Allen Picott) all of Suffolk, Virginia), and her aunts: Mary Langston, Edyth Copeland and uncle, Joe E Copeland Sr. (Lena Mae) of Suffolk, Virginia. She also leaves to cherish her memories, her brother and sisters-in-laws: Colonel (Ret.) Calvin Lewis esquire (Mi Sook), Reverend Clayton Lewis (Sharon), Dr. Alvin Lewis, Ellen Baker, Dorothy Clark, Alice Ashe and Carolyn Rawls (Melvin) and a godchild, James “Kendall” Hinton. Finally, “Tootsie” leaves to cherish her legacy, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her father, Abe Copeland Jr., maternal grandparents: Jack and Mary E Manley, and John Manley Hinton, as well as, her paternal grandparents, Abraham and Cherry Copeland. A public viewing will be held 12 Noon -7:00 pm on Wednesday, April 28th in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held 11:30 am Thursday, April 29, 2021 at Zion Christian Church, 5200 Quaker Drive, Suffolk, Virginia 23437. Rev. James Richardson will deliver the message of comfort. Mrs. Lewis will be laid to rest in Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gloria Elizabeth Copeland Lewis, please visit our flower store.