Jackie Coppenger

December 2, 2018

Jackie Coppenger, 77, of Milton, Florida went home to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday, November 25, 2018 at a local hospital surrounded by her loving family. Jackie was born July 31, 1941 in Atmore, Alabama to Clarence E. Smith and Helen Keller Smith Chiscoski.

Jackie lived in Pensacola, Florida most her life graduating from Pensacola High School in 1959. She married the love of her life, Jack Coppenger in Jacksonville, Florida in 1961. While there, she finished her degree in education at Jacksonville University. She and Jack moved back to Pensacola where she began her 30 year teaching career beginning and ending at Pine Meadow Elementary. She also taught at Longleaf Elementary, Bellview Elementary as well as schools in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Sandersville, Georgia. Jackie loved using the “Little House on the Prairie” books to read to her class, usually after lunch, using the time to teach them about God’s provision and other valuable life lessons.

Jackie also wrote and composed several gospel songs that encouraged many people. She sang her songs and played the piano beautifully over the years. Jackie and her husband pastored several churches beginning at Pine Forest Misson/Chapel, where Jackie served the Lord playing the piano or leading the music. She also served in this capacity at Ridgeland Heights Baptist Church in Sandersville, Georgia. They were the founding pastors of Charity Chapel in Pensacola as well. She also had a great ministry at Pensacola Boys Base alongside of her husband, who was the Superintendent for seventeen years. They ministered to hundreds of troubled youth in the Pensacola area. Jackie will be remembered by many as having a heart of compassion to anyone she met, especially those with a need.

Jackie is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jack. She is survived by her three children: Jill (Bill) Hunt, Jennifer Coppenger-Ward, and Jack E. (Renee) Coppenger; her grandchildren: Bobby (Melissa) Wilson, Ricky (Stefani) Wilson, and Dillon Hunt; Hayden, Liam, and Isabella Ward; Jack R., Deborah, Abbey, Emma, Andrew, and Wesley Coppenger; great grandchildren Jaxson Wilson and Stella Wilson. She is also survived by her sisters: Joyce Seymour, Judy Sizemore and Noveta (Doug) Nellums and many nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family members and friends.

The family would like to say “thank you” to her niece Shannon N. McGhee for her caring attention and medical advice. She was a very calming influence at a very difficult time. Also, thank you to the trauma team at West Florida Hospital Emergency Room.

The visitation will be held at Faith Chapel North, 1000 S. Hwy 29, Cantonment, Florida, on Monday, December 3, 2018 from 9:30 – 11:30 A.M. with the service beginning at 11:30 A.M. Former Pastor and family friend, Richard “Chip” Fox and son, Jack E. Coppenger will be officiating. Interment will be at Pensacola Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Wilson, Ricky Wilson, Jack R. Coppenger, Liam Ward, Dillon Hunt, Bill Hunt, Craig Seymour, Mark Seymour, Daniel Heyse & Michael Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gideons International, where Bibles can be designated in Jackie’s memory. Faith Chapel North is entrusted with all arrangements.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries