Patricia Ann Haines Copley

NEW BERN - Patricia H. Copley (Pat) 95, peacefully passed on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, following a brief illness.

Pat was born April 4, 1928, in Louisville, KY to parents Howard N. Haines and Frances Palmer Haines and grew up in Durham, NC graduating from Durham High in 1945. She received her Batchelor of Science Degree in Music from Woman’s College UNC (now UNCG) in 1949, majoring in piano and organ. In 1949, Pat married H. Kerman Copley, Jr. in Durham and remained there until 1955 when they moved to Greensboro.

As a musician, Pat was involved with music activities on local, state, and national levels. During her senior year in college, she served as organist for the Christmas and Easter concerts. She served several churches in Durham as organist. In Greensboro, she was organist at St Francis Episcopal Church from 1959 until May 2016.

Pat served as president of The Euterpe Club of Greensboro and in 2008 received the Euterpe Club’s Award of Merit. She was also president of Greensboro Music Teacher’s Association, Dean of the Greensboro Chapter, American Guild of Organists, and president of The NC Federation of Music Clubs

Pat presented programs as a piano soloist, organist, and as a member of a four-hand piano team. She served as an accompanist for the Little Theatre and Lyric Theatre productions and was the pianist for the Greensboro Symphony Guild Women’s Chorus. She was a charter member of UNCG Musical Arts Guild, having served on the board as Alumni Representative. Pat also enjoyed many years of teaching piano and hoped to inspire the love of music in her students. During the 60’s, Pat enjoyed studying with Arthur Howes of Peabody Institute and especially enjoyed piano classes with Daniel Ericourt.

Pat cherished her family and friends while enjoying her passion for music and later her love of reading. She would often stay up until 1 am just to finish a book.

Other than her parents, Pat is predeceased by her husband H. Kerman Copley, Jr., sister Marilyn H. Colclough, sons Major Steven H. Copley, USMC (Ret) and H. Kerman (Kerry) Copley, III. She leaves to cherish her memory, daughter Karen C. Holton (Mike) of New Bern, sister Mary Frances “Hankie” Holefelder of Wellington, KS, brother Howard Haines of Parkville, MD, granddaughter Claire H. Wright (Joe), great granddaughters Graysen and Gabrielle Wright of Princess Anne, MD, grandson James M. Holton II of Salisbury, MD, daughter-in-law Priscilla Copley, granddaughters Marissa Weston (Joseph), Maribelle Manaois, and nieces & nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 3, 2023, at St Francis Episcopal Church in Greensboro. Interment and reception will follow at the church.