A mayor and pastor reportedly ended his life days after a conservative website published an article with photos of him allegedly wearing women’s clothing and makeup.
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F.L. Copeland, the mayor of Smiths Station and pastor at First Baptist Church of Phenix City, died early Friday evening, as reported by AL.com. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said Copeland died around 5 p.m. after he was pulled over by police after a slow pursuit and used a handgun to end his life. “He exited the vehicle, produced a handgun, and took his own life,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. His death occurred two days after 1819 News published the article with screenshots of Copeland allegedly wearing women’s clothing and makeup.
On Wednesday, Copeland addressed the report and apologized to his church members for his private life being exposed to the public eye: “The article is not who or what I am….I apologize for any embarrassment caused by my private and personal life that has become public. This will not cause my life to change. This will not waiver my devotion to my family, serving my city, serving my church,”
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“God will always protect you, take care of you. He will see you through anything, absolutely anything.”
Copeland was elected as mayor in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. He gained nationwide attention for his response to a deadly tornado that killed 23 people in Lee County and toured with former President Donald Trump to visit the devastated areas.
1819 News wrote in their article that Copeland allegedly had a secret life as a transgender woman under the name Brittini Blaire Summerlin. The report also showed screenshots of hidden Reddit pages and a private Instagram account. He reportedly also wrote fan fiction on various websites under the pseudonym. The outlet claims he asked them to delete the article to protect his family and job as a pastor.
“After the interview, Copeland promptly deleted the accounts and asked them not to be made public due to his family and position as a pastor. Copeland initially denied having any knowledge of the accounts, but when he was made aware of the social media evidence, he quickly admitted to running the page. He also said that his wife was aware of his activity, but no one else in the community. Copeland told 1819 News dressing up as a woman has been a “hobby” since youth as a release from anxiety.”
It’s good that he killed himself because our government, being not righteous and ungodly, wouldn’t put him to death as God commands to be done in His Word.
Wow, another “Christian” happy that someone, who has mental illness, offed himself. How very Christ like.
Thinking the same thing Gregory… where is the tolerance, the forgiveness? “He who throws the first stone…”
Bless you, and this man’s family. They have a lot to recover from. 💔
I am with you 100% . In this day and age transgenders should not have to “hide in a closet”
Satan is a LIAR, and a THIEF out to STEAL SOULS, once Satan has convinced you that there is no way out (which, there is ~ that is why Jesus died on the cross for ALL of ‘US’) and that there is NO HELL, NO HEAVEN and NO GOD, Satan leads you to death and damnation!! This man was trapped by Satan’s lies, and demonic trickery!!
God have mercy on his soul, and watch over his wife and children…
What the hell is wrong with
you?
What God of the New Testament says to put a cross dresser to death????
I thought the Christ of the New Testament said to “love ye one another.”
I am confused!
Nice to know that you, at least, are clearly without sin.
Obviously, these people don’t believe in god or they would never wish harm on ANYONE!! You make up your own truths about what you think God would want done. God is not evil and wishes no harm on any of his Children. Live and let live. I think we all know who is going to HELL and who is going to Heaven. Very very sick people to wish bad on ANYONE else. Those are the people I call MENTALLY ILL
Media a wild one boyyyyyy…RIP
A good man, doing by all indications a good job for his community, harming no one, is destroyed. This media outlet should be ashamed. This was not a story – this was yellow journalism at best, and personal destruction at worst.
<3