Neighbor Spotlight: Bridgeville Mayor Betty Copeland named Mayor of the Year

Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would like to nominate someone as a Neighbor Spotlight, see signalitem.com, select the “Post Story” button in the upper right corner and complete the form to publish your nomination. Questions? Email Neighborhood News Network editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.

For Bridgeville Mayor Betty Copeland, there is no age limit on kindness, public service or shattering the glass ceiling.

On July 17, 87-year-old Copeland was named Mayor of the Year at the 50th annual Pennsylvania State Mayors Association conference.

According to the chairman of the award’s decision panel, Mayor Kieth Moss of Duryea Borough, Copeland was chosen for her work in the Bridgeville community “outside of the ordinary mayor” roles.

He said her application stood out for her efforts to connect with and welcome new Bridgeville residents. Copeland is known for making and gifting welcome boxes to families moving into the area, according to Moss.

“She’s done a lot for them, even though she’s only been mayor for three years,” Moss said.

This is just one of the many awards and accolades placed upon Copeland since taking office in 2018 at age 84. Still, Copeland said she is shocked every time someone notices the work she is doing in Bridgeville.

This year, she has led that community through multiple disasters, including the covid-19 pandemic and overwhelming floods.

“We’ve survived floods and all, but we’re still here,” Copeland said.

Copeland said she is thankful to see Bridgeville’s business community growing after these disasters, but there is still one project on the mayor’s heart. The rising waters of a recent flood damaged the First Baptist Church of Bridgeville — where Copeland is a regular parishioner.

“If we could do anything for this wonderful mayor,” former Bridgeville councilmember Deborah Colosimo said, “I’d like to get that church fixed.”

A lifelong volunteer in the community, Copeland said she strives to live up to the words of her supporters and late husband by “being a goodwill ambassador.”

After her husband Curtis Copeland, the beloved postmaster general in Bridgeville, passed away in 2016, Copeland had no intention of joining the political scene. But when her decades-old friend Colosimo approached her to run for Bridgeville’s open mayor seat, she said she would have to pray about it. A month later, the two were strategizing and moving forward with Copeland’s mayoral campaign.

While Copeland said she was uncomfortable with the thought of being publicly scrutinized in a political race, Colosimo was not worried.

“If they get dirty with Betty Copeland, yhey’ll run you out of town,” Colosimo said with a laugh.

Naturally, Colosimo said, the duo decided to proceed with the campaign, donning the slogan “Bridgeville Loves Betty.”

And since then, Colosimo’s words have been proven true — Bridgeville absolutely loves Betty Copeland.

At the mere mention of her name around the Bridgeville Borough Building, nearly every staff member responds with a smile and words of praise for their mayor.

At the moment of her swearing-in, Copeland became the first woman, the first Black person and the first octogenarian to hold the mayor’s seat in Bridgeville.

“I ran but I never expected to really win,” Copeland said.

In her tenure as mayor, Copeland has met almost every major political figure in the area, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Rep. Connor Lamb (D-17). She admires her pictures with these figures and community members in a neatly organized display that hangs above her desk.

Even with all this recognition for her work, Copeland is still shocked to know people see her work and find it worthy of praise, she said.

Moss said Copeland was nearly speechless when her name was called as the Mayor of the Year. In September, Moss is slated to visit Bridgeville during a council meeting to bestow the award upon Copeland, who still cannot believe she won.

“She’s a very humble woman,” Colosimo said.

Copeland hopes her time as mayor inspires young women — especially young Black women — to seek out public office and take on leadership roles in their communities, encouraging them to be accomplished, independent women.

In her personal life, Copeland has inspired the young women in her family, including her granddaughter who recently graduated from Harvard.

While Copeland would love to see her home parish repaired, she remains focused on serving the citizens of Bridgeville as they continue along the road to recovery, guided by a desire to show kindness to everyone she meets.

“I’m just happy to be a part of this community,” Copeland said. “The love that they do show is so special.”