On Friday afternoon, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones confirmed that Smiths Station Mayor F.L. "Bubba" Copeland took his life.
Copeland was the subject of several 1819 News stories regarding his sexually explicit behavior while serving as mayor of Smiths Station and lead pastor at the First Baptist Church of Phenix City.
Our prayers are with the residents of Smiths Station, the parishioners of First Baptist Church of Phenix City and Copeland's family.
Per CNAW News, the Lee County Sheriff's office went to perform a welfare check on Copeland around 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Deputies reportedly saw the vehicle and attempted to get Copeland to stop. The mayor got out of the vehicle around 4:34 p.m. and then took his life after producing a handgun.
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