Celebrating 95 Years

DERIDDER, LA. – Nell Holden-Copsey is 95 years old and still lives alone, drives to the supermarket and does yard work. On Aug. 30, Nell celebrated her 95th birthday with her church family at DeRidder Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was born in Baton Rouge, La. in 1928. When she was two years old, her parents joined the Baton Rouge Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her grandmother was one of the first members when the Baton Rouge church was organized. At the age of 14, she made the decision to be baptized. In 1977, she married Dave Copsey, and the two worked together in ministry until his death in 2017. One of her fondest memories was attending camp meetings in Gentry, Ark. “In those days we had 10-12 days of reunion with friends and family.” When asked what her secret to longevity is, she says, “Never quit.” Her grandmother once told her, “Don’t ever think about leaving the church, we’ve been in it too long.” I recently asked Nell what her favorite verse in the Bible is and unequivocally she said, “Why, John 14:15, if you love me, keep my commandments.”

By Rosemarie Jeffries