An Alabama preacher and politician who killed himself days after being outed for having a secret life online as a “transgender curvy girl” had told a friend just days earlier that he was experiencing some “dark days.”
F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, 62, who was the mayor of tiny Smiths Station, confided in the friend after a news outlet published a story that featured photos of Copeland’s “alter ego” Brittini Blaire Summerlin in a bra and feminine clothing.
“After watching for a day or two [of] people just relentlessly attacking Bubba, I was quite bothered by it, and I just decided to reach out to him,” former Phenix City School Superintendent Larry D. Chiara told NBC News.
“It was the day before he passed away. I said, ‘Bubba, keep your head up, you’re a good man with a great heart. Don’t ever forget that. Call me if you need me,’” Chiara recounted.
“His response was: ‘Thank you. It’s been some dark days.’ And I said, ‘I’m sure, just hang in there it will pass.’”
But on Friday, the day Copeland died, another story was published alleging he wrote violent fantasy fiction and posted photos of people from the community to his Reddit page without their consent.
Copeland, who was also the pastor at First Baptist Church in nearby Phenix City, then contacted a friend at the local police department, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said.
“It was a friend calling a friend,” he explained. “Let’s just say he was concerned about the article. I think ‘upset’ would be a good way of putting it.”
Authorities then conducted a welfare check on the mayor.
Two deputies first went to Copeland’s to find him, and then to a local market he frequented, before ultimately spotting the mayor driving on a county road, officials said.
The deputies then turned on their emergency lights and tried to get Copeland to pull over.
When he ultimately did, Copeland got out of the vehicle and shot himself.
“We had no idea Copeland would die on the spot,” Jones said.
“There were obvious concerns for his welfare, and deputies were attempting to get him to stop, make contact with him and assess the situation and then take action based on that assessment.”
He added that he does not know what the deputies could have done differently.
“It’s just tragic all the way around.”
But Chiara said he blamed Copeland’s death on those who mocked him online — and are continuing to do so even after his death.
“Some people are just heartless even in the man’s death,” he said, adding Copeland’s son “is really having a hard time with it.”
Church member Dan Elkins also said he has been removing hateful comments on Copeland’s Facebook page following his death.
“He was far from perfect — but he was my pastor, my friend, and my brother,” Elkins told NBC. “And in the midst of my anger about this whole situation, tonight my heart is just absolutely broken.
“By no means am I disregarding/discounting accountability,” he added, “but it must be dispensed with love and care, not scorn and judgment.”
Copeland is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters.