The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Another voice has been added to Heavens choir. Barbara Ann Copes (nee Peterson, & formerly Craig) left us to enter the embrace of her Lord Jesus the Christ. It was appropriate that she gained her freedom from her battle with Alzheimer's on Independence Day. She made her passing surrounded by family and loving caregivers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 9, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Barry Bradley, of First Baptist Church in Orange. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Crosby, June 26, 1936, she was the daughter of Edward Harold Peterson and Esther Nelson Peterson.

Music was a God-given gift and a legacy of her family.

She grew up with her father leading the church choir and her mother playing the piano at First Baptist Church in Crosby.

She studied music at Sam Houston State College and eventually earned her master's degree in music.

She shared her gift of Music in her Crosby High School band and was drum major her senior year graduating at 16.

She taught choir two years at Nederland Elementary School, 10 years at West Orange High School, one year in Port Arthur, two years in Pasadena, and four years at little Cypress Junior High School.

She sang at weddings and in her church choir and played the piano for many years at First Baptist Church of Orange.

She also taught piano and voice lessons privately, and assisted as an accompaniment pianist for West Orange schools after she retired.

She finished her teaching career in Deweyville making use of her college minor in English.

She taught English and reading at the middle school.

She later also used these skills as a volunteer with the G.O.A.L.S. program, teaching adults how to read.

She was very active in her faith being an intercessor involved in Prayer Ministry at her church and also with Orange County Intercessors with her longtime friend Ginger Veal, the Breakthrough Prayer Ministry, and Concerned Women for America.

She was also involved in the Women's Aglow Ministry, to help herself and others be the women God called them to be.

She loved and served her family.

Helping however and whenever she could.

Her home was always open to her children and their families as needed during times of transition.

She looked forward to the summers where she would gather together all of her grandkids for two weeks of fun-filled times.

Even through the difficult struggle with Alzheimer's, God used her sweet spirit, loving nature and beautiful smile to touch people's lives.

Her light was shining to the end even when she wasn't aware of it.

We were truly blessed to have her in our lives and look forward to seeing her again when we make our journey home.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Eddie Copes; grandparents, Ludwig and Anna Peterson and John and Lydia Nelson and her son-in-law, John Maddux.

Barbara is survived by her children, Gary Craig, Pamela Maddux and Steven Craig, all of Orange; grandchildren, Bryan and Kelly Maddux, Sarah and Dave Kerr, Jeremy Maddux, Adam Craig and Amanda Craig; great-grandchildren, Cailin Kerr, Heather Kerr and Brody Maddux; brother, A. Wayne Peterson and wife D’Alva, of Longview and her nieces, Cynthia Peterson, Ellen and Alan Beck and Karen Nott.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Beaumont at 700 North St., Beaumont, TX 77701.