Former WRAL-TV News Photographer Bruce Wittman
(Currently Executive Producer - Eagle Video Productions Inc.)
And if you knew Mark, you already knew two things about him.  Mark Copeland was a consummate photographer and he was from Tennessee!

Over the years, I hired him on many occasions as a freelance cameraman.  And everytime I called him on his cell, I would jokingly ask him if he was in Raleigh or TN.
80% of the time he said he was in TN!  With a smile in his voice.

He was working for me on a Raleigh shoot the day before him died.  And he called me up on his last night on earth from the Atlanta airport, telling me about that day's successful shoot and him looking forward to shooting Powerboats from a helicopter the next day in Sarasota FL.  That's the last time I spoke with him.

Our last telephone conversation was fun, funny, joyful and too short.

I will really, really miss his soft voice, his gentle humor and his kindness to others.

My heart goes out to his family in TN and his other video family here in Raleigh.

We did not know this man who willingly and unselfishly shared his expertise, talents, time and patience with our young production crew.  He participated in our project for personal reasons which we will never really know, but has left us in this business with a lasting example to follow.

You can see Mark in action smiling away, it was cold, the takes were many and the resulting PSA was shown at every high school in the state.

(Here's a photo of Mark at work on the PSA. Scroll down to see him in action.)

Friend Gwen Singletary
(of Kingston, TN)
We arrived in OAK RIDGE in 1976 and our lives would become richer as we met and loved our new neighbor, Mark Copeland.  Mark was the truest friend any of us will ever have. 

His connection to our large family continued even over distance as he became one of the best photo journalist anywhere.  His accomplishments never surprised us, they did make us proud. 

But the most impressive accomplishments where Mark was concerned had to do with his character.  He was unfailing in his steady loyalty and ability to perceive the higher road. 

Mark was a part of every milestone in our lives.  He continued to visit my husband and I after we moved to Kingston and to 'check up on us' by phone and email. 

He let nothing come before his love and loyalty for his family and he treasured their devotion to him.  Our hearts ache for them today.

Former Colleague Eugene Murray
(currently a Distance Learning Specialist at NC State)
Mark and I just missed each other at WRAL-TV – he joined the station a few months after I left – but we met soon after Mark began his Steadicam career.  A training video I was producing needed some Steadicam shots, and I was referred heartily to Mark by mutual friends and colleagues. "Mark's a great shooter and great to work with" several people told me.  They were absolutely right on both counts.

I called Mark and arranged to meet at his home that evening to review the production details.  As Mark gave me his address and directions, something sounded very familiar.  "Wait a minute, Mark...you're in my old apartment!"  We both laughed and enjoyed the coincidence of living in the same residence years apart.  This unique connection was simply the beginning of a great personal and professional friendship Mark and I shared these past years.

Like his many friends who have written, it was a pleasure and privilege to know and work with Mark.  His videography talent and expertise enhanced every production we collaborated on, and his genuinely good nature and wit made long shoot days much more fun.  As a producer, I always kept Mark's number on a short list for freelance crew though initially called him only for Steadicam work.  After a few productions together, Mark said politely, "You know, I can shoot pretty well from a tripod and handheld, too."  I got the hint, and he got called much more often.

One thing that I'll remember about and be grateful to Mark – his commitment to doing good work and helping others was as ever-present as his smile.  While Mark's talents brought him opportunities to travel the world, the productions we worked on together took us mainly around Raleigh and across the state.  Mark once donated his Steadicam and time to a public service project I produced, working several hours late into the night simply as a favor to a friend.  No matter where he was shooting, Mark loved what he did, ALWAYS appreciated the job and brought his best to it.

It's almost impossible to believe that Mark is gone now – he was such a bright part of our lives and community.  Jay Jennings earlier wrote eloquently about Mark that he "was one of the best shooters" and "one of the best people to ever work" at WRAL-TV.  I would extend Jay’s thought to included our entire profession and simply add "Mark is one of the best people, ever."

Thank you, Mark.  We miss you.  Heaven's gain.