Copeland celebrates his 44th with the community

BY ALLEN A. BUCHANAN, Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG — Jeff Copeland humbly greeted hundreds of well-wishers to his birthday bash held at the spacious Club Nova on Martin Luther King Street North last Friday night.

After a tumultuous down pour, just enough time passed for the streets to dry out before Copeland’s birthday celebration, attend by over 400 people, got underway.

When people entered the courtyard of Club Nova, the first thing they noticed was Copeland’s birthday present from the Flynn Law Family.

“Tonight, this is just a celebration of Jeff and his life,” said Attorney James Flynn, Your Southside Lawyer.

He emphasized that the 2014 Mercedes Benz as a gift was not about business, but it was “100 percent personal because he is a great guy and Flynn and his family wanted to let him know how much he is loved and appreciated.

Flynn described Copeland as one of the most “dedicated people we have in the community.”

“He’s been an active force in my law firm to make sure that we stay connected to the community not just in words but in action,” said Flynn.

The attorney talked about Copeland’s major role in the 500 turkey giveaway and the Fall Family Festival last year. This year Copeland plans to give away a thousand turkeys to be accompanied by a concert next month.

Flynn sees the E-Class 350 Mercedes as only a symbolic token of friendship that has evolved into a brotherly relationship.

People from all walks of life attended and enjoyed Copeland’s birthday party late into the early morning hours. Probably one of the most endearing qualities Copeland, the executive director of the Pinellas County Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is his ability to fade into the background as if the party was not about him but about the community he serves without flamboyant fan-fair.