F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, the mayor of Smiths Station, committed suicide on Friday night in Lee County, sparking a flood of condolences for his wife and children in Phenix City.
The former U.S. Senator Doug Jones wrote on X, the social media site that was formerly known as Twitter, “He was a good man and a great mayor who led the small town of Smith Station through the tough times of a devastating tornado a few years ago.”
Director of Alabama Pardons and Paroles Cam Ward described Copeland’s passing as “so incredibly sad.”
“Many people in our society are dealing with a great deal of hardship. The Bible tells us to always love our neighbor, regardless of decisions we may disagree with. I can attest to it,” tweeted Ward. Many people who read his story ought to examine themselves in the mirror.
We have high expectations of our elected officials and public servants, but they frequently fall short because they are also people like the rest of us. However, Jamie Lowe, the chairperson of the Lee County Democratic Party, wrote that Mayor Copeland was the cornerstone of Smiths Station.
Lowe continued, “We strongly condemn the use of hateful and discriminatory rhetoric to target the personal lives of individuals, whether they are private or public citizens.” “There are very real and life-altering consequences to the practice of demonizing each other because of personal life choices, which must end.”
Days after a string of posts by the website 1819 News, which was formerly under the ownership of the Alabama Policy Institute, Copeland passed away.
Copeland, a 49-year-old husband and father of three, was featured in pictures wearing women’s clothes and cosmetics.
The chief editor of 1819 News, Jeff Poor, did not respond to the criticism but instead sent this statement to AL.com:
