Henry Jefferson Copeland

Henry Jefferson Copeland, 90, died peacefully on June 24, 2026, at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, North Carolina. Embraced by the love of his family, he was preceded in death by Laura Harper Copeland (Lolly), his wife of 67 years, only a few short months ago.

Formerly of Wooster, Ohio, Montreat, North Carolina, and Griffin, Georgia, Henry will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his keen intellect, and the grace and civility he brought to bear on the complexities of leading an academic institution.

Henry was born on June 13, 1936, in Griffin, Georgia, to Dr. Henry and Emory Copeland. Known in Griffin as “HJ,” he met Lolly Harper in the fourth grade and she instantly became, and remained, the apple of his eye. Henry was a member of the First Baptist Church. In high school he played basketball and was the president of his senior class.

Henry and Lolly wed in Griffin in 1958.

Henry received his BA from Baylor University and, after a year at Cornell Medical School in New York City, attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York for graduate work in modern European history. After earning a PhD, he began teaching in 1966 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at The College of Wooster in Ohio.

In the late 1960s Henry served as Wooster’s Dean of Students, then as Associate Dean of the College, and in 1974 he assumed the newly created position of Dean of the Faculty. In a society fractured by debates over the Vietnam War, civil rights, and Nixon, the college’s diverse community — of faculty, staff, students, parents, donors, board members and area residents — recognized Henry’s willingness to listen patiently and valued his commitment to rational discourse and fairness.

Henry became the ninth President of The College of Wooster in 1977 and served in this role until 1995.

Believing that ideas have consequences, Henry was committed to the vital role of liberal arts colleges in higher education. During his tenure, and with Lolly’s partnership, the College saw significant changes that enhanced Wooster’s reputation as a national leader in liberal arts education, including improvements in the student-teacher ratio, the addition of a dozen majors, growth in research opportunities for faculty and students, and the addition of academic buildings and housing. The Ohio Light Opera opened and thrives to this day.

While he was President, the college’s endowment grew from $15 million to more than $185 million. Henry and Lolly visited with thousands of alumni across the country. He sometimes quipped that he’d trained for this job during childhood, while calling on relatives on Sunday afternoons in Georgia.

Asked recently what he enjoyed most about being President, Henry replied “planting trees.” The reply summed up Lolly and Henry’s desire to quietly invest in future generations. They personally oversaw the planting of hundreds of oaks and maples around the campus.

After stepping down in 1995, Henry returned to the classroom to end his career as it had begun, teaching French history.

After retiring in 1997, Henry and Lolly moved to Montreat, North Carolina, an area Henry first visited with his parents in 1936, and where the couple had enjoyed summers throughout their married life. They golfed, hiked, read, travelled and spent time with their grandchildren and dogs.

Henry was preceded in death by Lolly, his parents and sister Lila, and is survived by his children Henry “Hank” Drake (Amy) Copeland and Eleanor Copeland (Ed) Weis, and grandchildren, Audrey Svaby Copeland, Leon Harper Copeland, Lauren Harper Weis, and Caroline Mullin Weis.

Henry will be remembered for his devotion to Lolly, as an exceptional father to Henry and Eleanor, and as a beloved grandfather to Audrey, Leon, Lauren and Caroline. The family will gather for a private service in his honor.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Henry’s memory be sent to the Copeland Fund for Independent Study at The College of Wooster at 1189 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.