Jerry Norman Copes Sr.

June 10, 1952 - April 15, 2022

Obituary Jerry Norman Copes, Sr., formerly of Horntown, Virginia, was a resident of Salisbury, Maryland. He peacefully departed this earthly life on Friday, April 15, 2022 at Tidal Health Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Maryland. Born on June 10, 1952, he was the son of the late George Copes and Holland Stansbury (Lawrence Stansbury). Jerry was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland. The beloved husband of Edna Copes, they were joined in holy matrimony on June 28, 1996. They enjoyed a loving union of twenty-six (26) years. Jerry entered military service on the 25th day of January 1974. He served in the United States Army 22nd Infantry as a mechanic until his honorable discharge on the 5th day of November 1976. His notable employments included Tom & Jerry’s, Chesapeake Foods, Tyson Foods, Perdue Poultry Plant and lastly, he retired from the Worcester County Detention Center as a Correctional Officer. He joined Mount Wesley United Methodist Church where he served as a Lay Speaker, President of the Methodist Men, member of the Usher board and a former member of the finance committee. He was also a member of the family gospel group Select. Jerry was a lifetime lover of music and his favorite hymns were “I’m Pressing On”, “I’m Just A Nobody”, “Let It Rain”, and “There’s A Bright Side Somewhere.” He was devoted to The Lord, his family and friends, but especially his grandkids. He always tried to leave you with a smile. He was a loving and genuine soul. Jerry was kind hearted and thoughtful. He was a peacekeeper, and counselor to all. There was nobody cooler than Jerry. Jerry leaves to cherish loving memories: his devoted wife, Edna Copes and eight children, Todd Morris, Sr. (Kimberly) of Washington, DC, Anita (Serafin) Ramos of Salisbury, MD, Tammy Copes of Salisbury, MD, Anita Ayres (Craig) of Salisbury, MD, Shanita Copes of Pocomoke City, MD, Vernette Ayres of Snow Hill, MD, Jerry Copes, Jr. of Pocomoke City, MD and Alphonso “Monty” Taylor of Baltimore, MD; one god daughter Kiara Townsend and one godson Albert Bateman. He also leaves fond memories with: twenty-one (21) grandchildren and eleven (11) great-grandchildren; 3 aunts, Hazel (Earl) Marshall and Beulah Wallop, both of Horntown, VA and Esther Dickerson of Pocomoke City, MD; one uncle, J.C. Lankford of Stockton, MD; two nephews, Pierre Copes, Sr. of Baltimore, MD and Blankford Copes, Jr. of Salisbury, MD and his special friends, Audrey Waters, Gregory Waters, Larry Steele, Sidney Cottman, Bryant Ringgold, Reese Gardner and a host of cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Blankford “Butch” Copes, Sr. SUBMITTED WITH LOVE ~ THE FAMILY