People gathered at the Phenix City Amphitheater on Tuesday night for a prayer service after the death by suicide of Smiths Station Mayor Fred “Bubba” Copeland, who was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Phenix City.

Copeland killed himself with a handgun on Friday evening, Lee County authorities said.

The mayors of Phenix City and Columbus, Ga., participated in the event at the amphitheater, which sits on the Chattahoochee River. Seven pastors said prayers.

“The city of Smiths Station is hurting,” Phenix City Mayor Eddie Lowe said after the event.

“We know that people at First Baptist Church are hurting. So when people are hurting, it is the mission critical that other people show more compassion and love. Because we all will have to deal with something that will hurt us.

“So what better way to help remedy and to encourage the ones that are hurting to continue to move on than to be able to have an event like this where we can’t be afraid of our faith. And actually that’s the only thing that will get us through it.”

Copeland’s death came two days after 1819 News published photos of him wearing women’s clothing and makeup.

1819 News is a website that was once owned by the Alabama Policy Institute.

Lowe said he knew Copeland “very well.” He declined to comment on the controversy that preceded and has followed Copeland’s death.

“I’m not going to elaborate on that,” Lowe said. “I do know this, that I knew that person. And the only thing I can go on is the relationship that we have.”

Lowe said their relationship was good because of work they collaborated on as mayors.

Copeland, 49, was married and a father of three. He had been mayor of Smiths Station, a city of about 5,500 people between Opelika and Phenix City, since 2016.

Smiths Station City Councilman Richard Cooley said Tuesday night’s event was not about any one person but was about healing.

“This is something that we need to do on a more regular basis and not wait for a tragedy to step up and hit us in the face,” Cooley said.

Smiths Station, Cooley said, is “reeling. But we’re coping at the same time with it. We’re doing everything necessary, taking the legal steps.”

Smiths Station announced Tuesday that Mayor Pro Tem Morris Jackson will take on the job of mayor.

A woman who declined to give her name said at the conclusion of the service that more prayer is needed.

“I came for the family, this community, Smiths Station,” she said. “Everybody needs to be praying. Bubba is in heaven. No doubt in my mind. God took him home.”

Tomi Lowe, who is Mayor Lowe’s daughter and is an instructional coach at South Girard Junior High in Phenix City, said Copeland was willing to help with projects, including a Christmas benefit she organized last year.

“He came willingly to help us give back to the kids,” Tomi Lowe said. “So my perspective of him was a great man. He always gave back. He wasn’t biased just to Smiths Station. He was willing to help everybody in this area.”

Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson said Tuesday night’s event was also about other ways people are hurting.

Henderson said Columbus is grieving over the death of Mitchi McKnight Wade, a 44-year-old wife and mother of two who was a community leader and volunteer. Wade died in an ATV accident on Friday while volunteering at an event.

“I believe in prayer,” Henderson said. “I believe that when a number of people engage in prayer and pray together, I think things can change.”

Copeland’s family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday at First Baptist of Phenix City.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, reach out to the 24–hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741; or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours.

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