SMITHS STATION, Ala. (AP) — After the 2019 suicide of a local teenager, small-town mayor and pastor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland helped students place roadside signs in his Alabama community to try to reach others who might be hurting.
“You are worthy of love.” “Don’t give up.” “You matter.”
kAm%9@D6 H6C6 E96 D2>6 >6DD286D 7C:6?5D D2:5 E96J EC:65 E@ 86E E9C@F89 E@ r@A6=2?5 367@C6 96 E@@< 9:D @H? =:76 2=@?8 @?6 @7 E9@D6 4@F?EJ C@25D EH@ 52JD 27E6C 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 ?6HD D:E6 6IA@D65 D@4:2= >65:2 A@DED H96C6 96 2AA62C65 :? H@>6?’D 4=@E9:?8[ 2 H:8 2?5 >2<6FA]k^Am
kAm%96 5:D4=@DFC6 3@>32C565 r@A6=2?5[ ch[ H:E9 @?=:?6 C:5:4F=6 2?5 9:D 562E9[ 6IA6CED D2:5[ F?56CD4@C6D E96 52?86CD @7 @FE:?8 A6@A=6 :? 2? 6C2 E92E 92D D66? E96 6C@D:@? @7 {vq%"Z C:89ED 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^EC2?D86?56C\86?56C\277:C>:?8\=2HDF:ED\4@FCE\`c3_hfc`adf3hf`h``befad__dd7ef`4QmDE2E6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJk^2m :?EC@5F46 =68:D=2E:@? 32D65 @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^7=@C:52\5@?E\D2J\82J\=2H\D:8?65\de266e`7_fd2`aeeb7adhh_4f3b`eac5QmD6IF2= @C:6?E2E:@?k^2m 2?5 86?56C :56?E:EJ]k^Am
kAmr@A6=2?5VD 7C:6?5D D2:5 E96J 9@A6 :E AC@>AED 2 H2G6 @7 D6=7\6I2>:?2E:@? 23@FE 9@H H6 EC62E @E96CD]k^Am
kAm“x ;FDE H2?E E@ 2D< J@F A6@A=6 H9@ E9@F89E :E 9F>@C@FD E@ AF3=:4=J C:5:4F=6 9:>] pC6 J@F 92AAJ ?@Hn (92E 4C:>6 5:5 96 4@>>:En” {2CCJ s:r9:2C2[ 2 7@C>6C D49@@= DFA6C:?E6?56?E H9@ <?6H r@A6=2?5 7C@> H96? 96 D6CG65 @? 2 4@F?EJ D49@@= 3@2C5[ HC@E6 :? 2 A@:?E65 u2463@@< A@DE]k^Am
kAmr@A6=2?5[ E96 >2J@C @7 $>:E9D $E2E:@?[ 2 4:EJ @7 d[b__ ?62C E96 v6@C8:2 3@C56C[ C2? 2 D>2== 8C@46CJ DE@C6 2?5 H2D A2DE@C 2E u:CDE q2AE:DE r9FC49 :? ?62C3J !96?:I r:EJ[ H96C6 2 D:8? AC@4=2:>D E@ A2DD6CD3J[ “y6DFD {@G6D *@F] p== pC6 (6=4@>6]”k^Am
kAmw:D AF3=:4 D@4:2= >65:2 AC6D6?46 56E2:=65 32AE:D>D[ 72>:=J 82E96C:?8D[ 9@>64@>:?8 A2C256D 2?5 D2=6D 2E 9:D 4@F?ECJ DE@C6]k^Am
kAm$E2E6 #6A] y6C6>J vC2J[ 2 =68:D=2E@C 7C@> ?62C3J ~A6=:<2[ D2:5 r@A6=2?5 925 366? 2 “DE62572DE AC6D6?46” 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^7afdd33`ha33c22_3ddc`636gdb74f66Qm2 a_`h E@C?25@k^2m 56G2DE2E65 CFC2= D64E:@?D @7 E96 4@F?EJ[ <:==:?8 >@C6 E92? a_ A6@A=6] r@A6=2?5 H2D A9@E@8C2A965 H:E9 E96?\!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A H96? 96 E@FC65 E96 2C62]k^Am
kAmqFE r@A6=2?5VD AC:G2E6 @?=:?6 =:76 3642>6 AF3=:4 @? }@G] ` H96? 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 ?6HD 3=@8 A@DE65 E96 7:CDE @7 D6G6C2= :E6>D 56D4C:3:?8 A@DED 96 >256 FD:?8 2? 2=:2D @? x?DE28C2> 2?5 #655:E 2D 2 “EC2?D86?56C 4FCGJ 8:C=” H:E9 A9@E@D @7 9:> H62C:?8 H@>6?’D 4=@E9:?8 2?5 >2<6FA]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 5:D4=@DFC6[ E96 DE2E6 q2AE:DE @C82?:K2E:@? D2:5 :E H2D 2H2C6 @7 2==682E:@?D @7 “F?3:3=:42= 3692G:@C” :?G@=G:?8 E96 A2DE@C] p?5 2 ?2E:@?2==J DJ?5:42E65 C25:@ D9@H D2:5 r@A6=2?5 D9@F=5 36 2D92>65 3642FD6 E96 q:3=6 E62496D E92E :E :D 2? “23@>:?2E:@?” 7@C 2 >2? E@ 5C6DD :? H@>6?’D 4=@E9:?8]k^Am
kAmp? 255:E:@?2= A@DE @? }@G] b[ E96 D2>6 52J r@A6=2?5 <:==65 9:>D6=7[ 244FD65 9:> @7 FD:?8 E96 ?2>6D 2?5 A9@E@D @7 =@42= C6D:56?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 2 >:?@C[ H:E9@FE A6C>:DD:@? :? A@DED[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 C62= ?2>6 @7 2 =@42= 3FD:?6DDH@>2? :? 2 7:4E:@?2= DE@CJ 23@FE 2 >2? H9@ 56G6=@AD 2 5625=J @3D6DD:@? H:E9 E2<:?8 @G6C 96C :56?E:EJ]k^Am
kAmr@A6=2?5 E@=5 E96 ?6HD D:E6 E92E 96 5@??65 H@>6?’D 4=@E9:?8 2D 2 H2J E@ C6=62D6 DEC6DD 3FE H2D ?@E EC2?D86?56C] w6 DE@@5 367@C6 9:D 4@?8C682E:@? @? }@G] ` E@ 2A@=@8:K6 2?5 D2:5 E92E E96 A9@E@D E2<6? :? E96 AC:G24J @7 9:D @H? 9@>6 H6C6 2? 2EE6>AE 2E 9F>@C]k^Am
kAm“%9:D H:== ?@E 42FD6 >J =:76 E@ 492?86] %9:D H:== ?@E H2G6C >J 56G@E:@? E@ >J 72>:=J[ E@ D6CG:?8 >J 4:EJ[ E@ D6CG:?8 >J 49FC49[” r@A6=2?5[ 2 9FD32?5[ 72E96C 2?5 DE6A72E96C[ D2:5 :? E96 =:G6DEC62>65 D6CG:46]k^Am
kAm{66 r@F?EJ $96C:77 y2J y@?6D D2:5 E92E 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 DF:4:56[ 56AFE:6D H6C6 2EE6>AE:?8 2 H6=72C6 4964< @? r@A6=2?5 3642FD6 @7 4@?46C?D 96 >:89E 92C> 9:>D6=7]k^Am
kAmuC:6?5D D2:5 r@A6=2?5 24<?@H=65865 96 H2D DECF88=:?8 :? E96 52JD 367@C6 9:D 562E9] s:r9:2C2 D2:5 96 C624965 @FE E@ r@A6=2?5 3J E6IE =2DE %9FCD52J 2?5 E96 >2J@C C6DA@?565 E92E “:E’D 366? D@>6 G6CJ 52C< 52JD]”k^Am
kAm“(96? E9:D DE@CJ 42>6 @FE[ :E H2D 2=C625J A2:?7F= 2?5 9FCE7F= ;FDE E@ D66 :E 2?5 <?@H E92E[ E92E E9:D :D 8@:?8 E@ 42FD6 2 =@E @7 8C:67 7@C qF332 2?5 9:D 72>:=J] qFE 2D x C625 H92E H2D @FE E96C6[ :E ;FDE H2D 86EE:?8 AC@8C6DD:G6=J H@CD6[ 2?5 x ;FDE D2H D@>6 C62= F8=:?6DD :? A6@A=6 2?5 E96:C 4@>>6?ED[” s:r9:2C2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmy24< sC6D496C[ 2 4=:?:42= AC@76DD@C @7 ADJ49:2ECJ 2E r@=F>3:2 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 E96 2FE9@C @7 “!DJ49@2?2=JE:4 %96C2AJ 2?5 E96 v2J |2?” D2:5 @FE:?8 42? 36 2? 24E @7 G:@=6?46 2?5 :? E9:D 42D6 :E “AC64:A:E2E65 2 G:@=6?E C6DA@?D6]”k^Am
kAmsC6D496C D2:5 A6@A=6 42? 92G6 C62D@?D E@ <66A D6IF2= @C 86?56C :56?E:E:6D 2?5 3692G:@CD[ DF49 2D 4C@DD\5C6DD:?8[ D64C6E 3642FD6 E96J 5@?’E 766= =:<6 E96J H@F=5 36 2446AE65]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D AC@323=J 2 8C62E D@FC46 @7 D92>6 2?5 6>32CC2DD>6?E E@ 36 @FE65 =:<6 E92E[” sC6D496C D2:5]k^Am
kAmr925 !624@4<[ 2 7@C>6C pF3FC? C6D:56?E[ D2:5 r@A6=2?5 H2D @?6 @7 E96 76H 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D E@ D9@H DFAA@CE 7@C 2 =@42= !C:56 6G6?E 96 @C82?:K65] w6 D2:5 96 36=:6G65 E96 2?E:\{vq%" 4=:>2E6 :? E96 DE2E6 362CD D@>6 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C r@A6=2?5VD DF:4:56]k^Am
kAm“*@F 92G6 E@ 7:E E96 3@I] *@F 42? 36 H9@ J@F 2C6[ 3FE J@F D9@F=5 36 2D92>65 @7 H9@ J@F 2C6 :7 J@FVC6 5:776C6?E[” !624@4< D2:5 @7 E96 2E>@DA96C6]k^Am
kAmp=232>2 =2H>2<6CD 92G6 :>A@D65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2=232>2\=68:D=2EFC6\EC2?D86?56C\he`c727c2hg62_c_33f37f`a36c4b525Qm32?Dk^2m @? EC2?D86?56C H@>6? A=2J:?8 @? 76>2=6 DA@CED E62>D :? D49@@=D 2?5 4@==686D 2?5 2AAC@G65 2 32?[ ?@H :? =:E:82E:@?[ @? EC62E:?8 EC2?D86?56C >:?@CD H:E9 86?56C\277:C>:?8 9@C>@?6D @C AF36CEJ 3=@4<6CD] %96 DE2E6 :? a_`h 492?865 E96 AC@46DD 7@C @3E2:?:?8 2 >2CC:286 =:46?D6 3642FD6 D6G6C2= AC@32E6 ;F586D 925 C67FD65 E@ :DDF6 E96> 27E6C E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 564:D:@? 2==@H:?8 D2>6\D6I 4@FA=6D E@ >2CCJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 F?C6=6?E:?8 2?E:\{vq%"Z C96E@C:4 4@>:?8 7C@> DE2E6 =68:D=2E:G6 9@FD6D 2?5 9:89\AC@7:=6 A@=:E:4:2?D 92D C62= =:76 4@?D6BF6?46D :? E96 7@C> @7 @?=:?6 2?5 :?\A6CD@? 3F==J:?8[ 92C2DD>6?E 2?5 G:@=6?46[” D2:5 $2> {2F[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 7@C {vq%"Z 25G@424J 8C@FA %96 wF>2? #:89ED r2>A2:8?]k^Am
kAm{2F ?@E65 E96 =@?8 9:DE@CJ @7 @FE:?8 AF3=:4 7:8FC6D :? E96 &]$][ H9:49 96 D2:5 Q4@?D:DE6?E=J 42FD6D 92C> — 7@C465 @FE:?8 :D 2 5:C64E 2EE6>AE E@ 6?52?86C E96 A6CD@? 36:?8 @FE65]”k^Am
kAmt2C=:6C :? E96 H66<[ 7=@H6CD D2E A:=65 :? 2 >6>@C:2= 282:?DE 2 H@@56? 4C@DD @FED:56 E96 49FC49 H96C6 r@A6=2?5’D 7F?6C2= D6CG:46 H2D 96=5 %9FCD52J] %96 49FC49[ =:<6 r@A6=2?5[ 92D 366? E2C86E65 H:E9 92E67F= 4@>>6?ED @? D@4:2= >65:2[ 49FC49 >6>36C sC] s2G:5 (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96 2?@?J>@FD ?2EFC6 @7 E96 :?E6C?6E D66>D E@ >2<6 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 H:E9@FE D:?] %96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 E92E 42DE DE@?6D 7C@> 24C@DD E96 9@C:K@? E92E J@F 42?’E C6DA@?5 E@ 2?5 J@F 42?’E 5676?5] $@ x 9@A6 :E >2<6D FD 2== C67=64E[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmpE 9:D 7F?6C2=[ 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J C6>6>36C65 r@A6=2?5 2D 2 3@:DE6C@FD >2? <?@H? 7@C D2J:?8 “2:?’E v@5 8@@5[” 5@E:?8 @? 9:D 72>:=J 2?5 8@:?8 @FE @7 9:D H2J E@ DAC625 <:?5?6DD :? E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“p A6CD@?’D =6824J :D ?@E 4C62E65 :? 2 >@>6?E @7 56DA2:C] xE :D 567:?65 3J 9:D 7C:6?5D 2?5 E9@D6 E92E =@G6 9:>[” (9:E6 D2:5]k^Am