Virginia Lee Bryan Coppage

Virginia Lee Bryan Coppage, 96 of Hahira, Georgia passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 surrounded by family and her Haven Hospice family in Chiefland, Florida. 

Born in Hahira, Georgia to the late Elie Clarence Dickerson & Carmon Laoma Hall Dickerson. She spent most of her life in the Hahira & Valdosta, Georgia area. Graduating from Hahira High School in the mid 1940’s she furthered her education at Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, Georgia for several years. 

After college she began a career with Citizens Community Bank in Hahira, Georgia. She married her first love the late Jesse Lee (J.L.) Bryan in 1947. They were married for thirty nine years prior to his death in 1986. They have two children, Jesse Lee Bryan III and Roger Glenn Bryan. Returning to work outside of the home after raising her children she found a home at Heritage Nursing Home Business Office in Valdosta, Georgia. She retired after many years of service. 

In the year 2000, Virginia married the second love of her life, the late Hoyt Edward Coppage. They spent most of their time traveling to see the world and spending time with family and friends. They were married for ten years prior to his death in 2010. She was of the Methodist faith and a member of Hahira Methodist Church now Hahira Community Church. She volunteered in the church office for many years. 

Virginia lived a full life and enjoyed many hobbies. She loved to read books, often reading two books a day. John Wayne was the third love of her life. You could always find Virgina watching western movies upon entering her home. She loved history, horses, cows, chickens and the wild west. She found the cowboy way of life very interesting. Playing the organ and working in the yard brought her happiness. 

In her later years, she personally restored a family home at the age of 85 and had it moved from town onto the Bryan Family Farm in Hahira, Georgia. Virginia had always dreamed of living at the farm so she accomplished her goal. Entertaining family and friends on her large front porch was a special treat for her. She loved watching the deer roam her property while rocking in her rocking chair on the front porch while the sun set. Simple things and moments made her the happiest. Fishing in Florida with her family was also a hobby. She looked forward to bringing her catch back to Georgia from Lake Okeechobee to have fish fry’s with her supper club and many friends & family. 

Virginia was gifted in the kitchen. She enjoyed canning tomatoes & green beans every year. Fresh Georgia peaches & creamed corn were a staple in her freezer year round for her family to enjoy. Cooking for family & friends is how she showed us all love. An avid collector of Franciscan Desert Rose China for eighty years. Virginia very much appreciated pretty china, a formal set dining table, good food and good table manners. 

Preceded in death by her first husband, Jesse Lee Bryan, Jr., second husband, Hoyt Edward Coppage, parents, Elie and Carmon Dickerson, daughter in law, Leanna James Bryan, sister in law Ruth Bryan Reddy, great nephew, Billy Reddy, Jr., great niece, Anna Beth Henry, two aunts, Virginia Carnell Hall Cain, Inell Hall Cain, four uncles, W.L. Hall, O.K. Hall, Harvey Hall, Colonel Joe Hall, son by marriage, deRon Coppage.

She is survived by two sons and a daughter in law, Jesse Lee Bryan III, Chiefland, FL, Roger Glenn & Tammy Bryan, Lakeland, FL; Six Children By Marriage, Lisa Coppage, Austin, TX, Roselyn Coppage Garret (Greg), Hahira, GA, Jennifer Coppage Pittman (Lee), Schertz, TX, deRon Coppage (Carin), Hahira, GA, Phillip Coppage (Sandy), Hiawassee, GA, Jeff Coppage (Harriette) Mayday, GA.

Seven Grandchildren, Ellen Bryan Browning (Todd), Cartersville, GA, Heather Bryan, Lakeland, FL, Daniel Bryan (Lara), Lakeland, FL, Justin Bryan (Katherine), Hudson, WI, Kevin Bryan, Lakeland, FL, Mychayla Boone (Devin), Trenton, FL, Mykenzi Goolsby, Chiefland, FL; Twelve Great Grandchildren, Parker Browning, Cartersville, GA, Carey Elizabeth Browning, Cartersville, GA, Julia Sellers, Lakeland, FL, Christopher Bryan, Hudson WI, Theodore Bryan, Hudson, WI, Elizabeth Bryan, Hudson, WI, Olivia Bryan, Lakeland, FL, Analee Hardin, Trenton, FL, Wade Hardin, Trenton, FL, Tymber Boone, Trenton, FL, Ethan Becham, Chiefland, FL, Elia Brown, Chiefland, FL. Great Nieces, Deeanna (Doug) Tolson, Hahira, GA, Nancy (John) Powers, Hahira, GA; Great Nephews, Dean Surgeon, Hahira, GA, Joey Reddy, Raleigh, N.C. 

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Virginia’s Care Team at Haven Hospice in Chiefland, FL who showered her with unconditional love and quality care or her loving church family, Hahira Community Church (formerly Hahira United Methodist Church).

Haven Hospice 311 NE 9 Street Chiefland, FL 32626 Attn: Community Fund https://beyourhaven.org/donate

Hahira Community Church 100 E. Stanfill Street Hahira, Georgia 31632 Attn: Lost Dogs Found https://www.hahiracommunitychurch.org/

A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens in Valdosta, GA. Reverend Mike Davis and Reverend Doug Tolson will be officiating the private service. Martin McLane Funeral Home will be assisting and serving the family.