ROCKLAND — Mildred R. Copeland, 85, transitioned to her Heavenly home, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at the Owls Head Homestead.

Born in Waterville, September 15, 1935, she was the daughter of William N. and Ida M. Clark Copeland. At that time her family lived in Albion. When the Copeland family moved to Rockland, she attended Rockland schools and at age ten Millie was baptized at First Baptist Church. After graduating Rockland High School in 1953, Millie worked two years at First National Bank of Rockland which at that time was located on Main Street.

She went on to attend Kings College in New York then transferred to Roberts Wesleyan College also of New York. While at RWC, she attended a missionary conference and heard about Wycliffe Bible Translators. After
graduation, Millie taught business subjects at Glen Cove Christian Academy. The Lord began speaking to her about missionary service – using her secretarial abilities.

Wycliffe Bible Translator accepted Millie’s application in 1964. In those days, training included attending one of their linguistics institutes and 12 weeks of training at their jungle camp in Mexico. The women at First Baptist had a shower for her to help provide the cooking utensils, etc., that she would need during her training.

Wycliffe assigned her to be secretary to their Central America Director in Guatemala City. Millie left Rockland for her appointment in October 1965.

While working in the Central America office, Millie became aware of the need for a business teacher at Faith Academy in the Philippines. She applied for and received a transfer of acceptance at Faith. On June 29, 1973, Millie arrived in the Philippines where she served the Lord for the next 35 years at Faith Academy, enjoying her work with the students and learning of the work in Bible translation into many languages.

In June of 2005, Millie returned to the United States to live, but wanted to continue serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators. She became the Media Administrative Assistant in their office in Willow Street, Pennsylvania.

Millie was pleased after her retirement to be blessed with the strength to care for her sisters Aggie and Fannie. She shared the family’s Highland Street home with them where she kept beautiful rose bushes. A smile of delight would shine from Millie’s face anytime she had the pleasure of eating shrimp or ice cream.

Her love for the Lord coupled with her zeal for spreading the Gospel Message, found Millie involved in many areas of outreach at the First Baptist Church of Rockland. More recently she was a member of and enjoyed the fellowship at West Rockport Baptist Church.

Other than her parents, Millie was predeceased by five siblings, William, Fred, Christine, Aggie and Fannie Copeland.

She is survived by one sister, Helen Fogarty Wing of Owls Head; many special nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members, as well as two very special caregivers, Louise Lewis and Jean Boyce.

A service will be held Monday, August 2, 2021, at 2 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. Interment will follow at Achorn Cemetery, Old County Road, Rockland. The Rev. David English will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Rte. 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074; or to Maine Cancer Foundation, 170 US Rte. 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.

To share a memory or story with Millie’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.