In Loving Memory of Keisha (Copes) Boothman (1982–2025)
With profound sorrow and heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news that Keisha (Copes) Boothman passed away on June 22, 2025, at the age of 43. The world lost a vibrant light far too soon—a woman whose kindness, resilience, laughter, and unwavering devotion to those she loved touched more lives than she ever realized.
Born and raised in Auburn, New York, Keisha was a daughter of her community in every sense. She was known not only for her immense talent as a hairstylist and entrepreneur but also for her generosity, compassion, and radiant presence. She built her life around the people and passions that mattered most: her family, her salon, and the deep bonds she forged with everyone she met.
From a young age, Keisha displayed a rare combination of creativity and drive. Her hands, which would one day craft styles that made clients feel beautiful and seen, were always busy—braiding dolls’ hair, sketching designs, dreaming big. That dream blossomed into **her own salon**, a space where her artistry came alive and where clients became friends. She poured not only her skills but also her heart into that place, creating a welcoming haven where laughter, healing, and transformation happened daily.
But her proudest role was never stylist or business owner—it was mother and **wife**. Keisha was the deeply devoted wife, and the fiercely loving mother, whom she often called her “greatest blessings.” Her love for her family was boundless and evident in everything she did—from cheering loudly at school events, to staying up late just to hear how everyone’s day went, to working tirelessly to ensure they had the best life possible.
To those who truly knew her, Keisha was the one you turned to when life got hard. She had a way of listening that made people feel truly understood, and a laugh so full and contagious that it could lift the weight of any bad day. Her friends knew her as their rock, their confidant, their fierce protector. And whether she had known you for a lifetime or a moment, you always left her company feeling lighter, stronger, better.
Her presence was a gift to this world—a rare combination of grace and grit, elegance and fire. Keisha had the kind of soul that refused to be hardened by adversity. She endured challenges, setbacks, and personal battles with a strength that awed everyone around her. And through it all, she never lost her faith in people, never lost her warmth, and never stopped fighting to create joy wherever she went.
In the beauty world, she was a true artist—each haircut, color, or style a masterpiece, and each client someone she uplifted with care. She understood that being a hairstylist wasn’t just about appearance—it was about making people feel confident, seen, and loved. She took her gift seriously, and with humility. Many who sat in her chair left with more than a new look—they left with a renewed spirit.
The suddenness of Keisha’s passing has left an aching void in our hearts. Her loss is felt not just in the silence of a home without her laughter, or a salon without her voice—but in the everyday moments she made extraordinary. Sunday mornings feel quieter. The world feels dimmer. And yet, in the midst of this unbearable grief, we hold onto the legacy she leaves behind.
Keisha’s legacy is **love**. It’s the lives she touched, the family she nurtured, the dreams she chased, and the warmth she spread. It lives on in her children’s eyes, in the friendships she cultivated, and in the countless people who now carry her memory forward. It’s found in the stories we’ll tell again and again—the way she always knew just what to say, how she danced in the kitchen like nobody was watching, how she could make you laugh until your stomach hurt, and how she gave everything she had, even when no one was watching.
Her family asks that, in lieu of flowers, you take a moment today to tell someone you love them. Hold your children tighter. Call an old friend. Forgive more quickly. And above all, live with the same kind of bold, open-hearted compassion that Keisha exemplified every single day.
Please keep Keisha’s beloved husband, children, family, and close friends in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. The grief is deep because the love was deep—and that love will never fade.
Forever in our hearts. Forever missed. Forever loved.
