8-page obituary of Mother Margaret Coleman Copprue

CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR 

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September 11, 1924 - November 30, 2021 HOMEGOING CELEBRATION 11:00 A.M.

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M O T H E R

Margaret Coleman

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COPPRUE 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021

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GREATER HARVEST WORSHIP CENTER 3801 Highway 49 S Greenwood, Mississippi 38930 Elder Michael C. Virgil, Pastor

Northern Mississippi Jurisdictional Music President

Pastor Larry Lewis, Officiant

Northern Mississippi Jurisdictional YPWW President

Superintendent Joseph Hawkins, Eulogist Administrative Assistant/District 12 Superintendent

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

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The Life and Legacy of

M O T H E R

Margaret Coleman

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Margaret Coleman (Copprue) was born September 11, 1924, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, to the late Deacon Isaac and Novella Coleman. She was four in a surviving siblingship of ten.

Margaret was a trailblazer and leader in her family, becoming the first to go off to high school at Saints Industrial High School and then to attend Rust College, a historically black college. She earned a four-year college degree majoring in history with a minor in English when few minorities were afforded this opportunity. Margaret was multifaceted and resourceful and was often questioned about her origin because of her poise and command of the English language.

Margaret was an educator and a schoolteacher in the Sunflower County School System for 34 years, teaching Language Arts and other subjects. During the 1950s, she taught at Bellview Elementary School, Carver Elementary School, and Drew High School; during the 1960s, she taught at Sunflower Elementary School; and during the 1970s, she transferred to Ruleville Junior High School and taught there until she retired in 1984, ending her career as an educator.

As her destiny unfolded, Margaret met and married the love of her life, George Lee Copprue, while he was picking up his younger siblings from the school where she was teaching. They were married on June 9, 1954, and four beautiful children were born into their union.

Margaret kept busy, raising her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and teaching school. She was a homemaker, a decorator, and a seamstress, making fancy clothes for her daughters with handmade patterns.

Margaret firmly believed that cleanliness was next to godliness, and she enjoyed making her home a place of warmth and comfort. She also supported her husband in his thriving rolling store business that supplied dry goods 2|

Celebration of Life

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"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

Proverbs 31:10

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to rural stores in Sunflower County and the surrounding areas until he was called to the ministry full time.

Margaret was elevated to First Lady in 1956 with her husband’s first pastoral appointment at the Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Doddsville, MS, where they served faithfully for 43 years.

She also served alongside her husband at True Vine COGIC in Shelby, MS, and Fifteenth Street COGIC in Columbus, MS, for more than 25 years. Mother Copprue was electrifying in the spirit, setting everything and everyone around her on fire. Her praise was unselfish and contagious. Her husband later became a State Official in the Northern Mississippi Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the COGIC, broadening their sphere of influence and making her a role model for many women, young and old, near and far.

Mother Copprue became a widow on September 15, 1999, losing her husband of 45 years. She continued to be faithful to the work that God placed in her hands, serving under the pastorate of Elder Lamar Moore at the Lily of the Valley, COGIC. She later joined the St. Paul COGIC in Kilmichael, MS, under the pastorate of Elder Michael Virgil and was faithful until her health failed. Even then, she met her financial obligations supporting the work of the ministry. Mother Copprue did the work of an evangelist missionary and was quick to discern but steadfast in her love for God and his people. She not only lived holy but preached holy living to everyone she met. She was a prayer warrior and prayed continually even when her health failed.

With her whole heart, she desired to please the Lord, to support his work, to support her family, and to go to HEAVEN when she died.

Mother Copprue went home to be with the Lord on November 30, 2021. She was preceded in death by her husband, Superintendent George Lee Copprue, Sr., her only son, George Lee Copprue, Jr. ( June), and her daughter-in-law, Betty Copprue.

She leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, her oldest, Abrellia (Rex) Rawls, her middle daughter Renee (Elder Michael) Virgil, and her baby daughter, Monica; her son in love James Williams and her daughter in love Nellie Copprue; three siblings: Ruth (Sylvester) Simpson, Addie B. Collins, and Geraldine (Lee) Barlow; one brother-in-law: Robert (Gloria) Copprue; two sisters-in-law: Angella Williams and Emma Jean Copprue; seven grandchildren: Larita, Kristal, George III, Garrick, Thurston, Brandon (Raven) and Lauren (Dennis); five great-grandchildren: Markel, Jamarrius, Colton, Raelyn and Lilian and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

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Celebratory Service 

 Mistress of Ceremony- Missionary Sarah Walker Greater New Jerusalem, Indianola, MS

Prelude……........................................................................................................................................................................…. Musician * Processional.........................................................................................................................................................................................…. * Prayer of Comfort................................................................................................................…. Superintendent Henry Walker Northern Mississippi Jurisdictional Sunday School Superintendent * Old Testament Scripture….................…............................................................................................... Pastor Marion Bonner

Fifteenth Street Church of God in Christ, Columbus, MS * New Testament Scripture….....................................................................................................Missionary Margaret Cobbins District 5 Sunday School Field Representative Selection……............................................................................................................................................…. Celebration Ensemble Words of Consolation …………………….................................…................................................................. Pastor Lamar Moore Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ, Doddsville, MS Expressions As a Pastor’s Wife and Member….......................................………..... (2 Minutes) Missionary Annie Joiner

Fifteenth Street Church of God in Christ, Columbus, MS Missionary Vanessa Moore Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ, Doddsville, MS Missionary Dora Georgia St. Paul Church of God in Christ, Kilmichael, MS Selection….............................................................................................................................................................CelebrationEnsemble Expression Family & Friends (2 Minutes) Tribute from the Family……………………...............................................…............................................... Pastor Michael Virgil St. Paul Church of God in Christ, Kilmichael, MS Video Presentation................................................................................................................................................................................

Obituary (Read Silently).....................................................................................................................................................................

Acknowledgements & Resolution & Recognitions……….......................................................................... Dr. Vickie Curry

Word of Life Church of God in Christ, Indianola, MS Sermonic Selection.................................................................................................................................... Missionary Lois Scales Greater Pentecostal Temple, Greenwood, MS Eulogy…..................................................................................................................................... Superintendent Joseph Hawkins Administrative Assistant/District 12 Superintendent Peter’s Rock Family Worship Center, Starkville, MS Recessional Organ Postlude *Please stand where indicated*

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*For your safety and the safety of others, please observe CDC covid guidelines.

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Celebration of Life

Tributes From Daughters 

 To My Dear Mother

To My Dear Mother

I am so thankful that God choose me to be your Daughter.

Mother, it was only after becoming an adult that I learned that you called me “Little Margaret.” What an honor! You possessed such outstanding characteristics, aptitude, insightfulness, and quick-wittedness that I appreciated. More than anything, I yearn to have a double portion of the Spirit of God rest upon me as it has rested upon you down through the years.

You were a hidden gem.

Thank you for everything to include: -Teaching us the importance of a good education & making us turn the TV off everyday after school and read to you -Teaching us to love the Lord by being a Godly example and keeping us in Sunday School, Bible Study, Sunday Church, Revivals and on the Altar.

-Being so concerned about souls that you talked about to it everyone

Forever Loved, Renée Your Second Oldest

-Teaching us to pray by praying constantly without shame

-Teaching us to be frugal by making good use of everything before discarding it -Teaching us the importance of ministry by making us sing in the choir as young teenagers when we did not want to. You told me I was going to sing in the choir whether I wanted to or not.

-Loving us with tough love, taking good care of us and giving us a wonderful, memorable childhood I Will Always Love You Abrellia Your Oldest Child

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-Teaching us to be good homemakers by instructing us how to sew

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To My Dear Mother My Dear Sweet Mother, you set the bar for us so very high, and then you modeled it and wholeheartedly supported us in reaching every goal we set for ourselves. I am so blessed to have had you here to teach, instruct, mentor, praise, and encourage me all these years. I remember asking you if you would be around for me just as long as Grandma Novella was for you, and you softly replied, “I certainly hope so.” Well, you were, and for that, I am eternally grateful! You didn’t just go, but you left me well equipped. You left me your quick discernment and how to commune with the Holy Spirit in such a way that, like you, I am living in heavenly places right down here on earth…..

I’ll love you forever and I’ll see you again!

Your Baby Daughter Monica

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Mementos

Family and Friends

Celebration of Life

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M O T H E R

Margaret Coleman

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§ St. Paul Church of God in Christ Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ

Repast

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Final Arrangements Entrusted To

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Interment

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Acknowledgment

Smith Funeral Home 701 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Belzoni, MS 39038 662-247-1443

We, the family of Margaret Copprue, would like to offer our sincerest appreciation for all the prayers, calls, texts, thoughts, and words of condolences provided before and during the transitioning of our dear mother. We also would like to thank the Good Samaritan and Melissa Irons, a private home health service provider, for your services and care. We appreciate your continued prayers, and we pray that the grace and favor of God be with you.

Designed by: Rendezvous Visual Communincations | Rhondavousgd@gmail.com | rhondaevans.net

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Greater Harvest Worship Center 2913 Highway 49 E Greenwood, MS 38930

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Northern Mississippi Ministers’ Wives Circle

Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery 2913 Highway 49 E Greenwood, MS 38930

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Culinarians

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Mrs. Miracle Moore Ms. Danielle Moore

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Flower Bearers

Ushers

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Elder Larry Lewis, Jr.

Mr. Brandon Williams Mr. James Williams

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Honorary Pallbearers

Mr. Rex Rawls Pastor Michael Virgil

Adjudant

Mr. George Copprue, III (grandson) Bro. Marvin Miller (Doddsville) Elder Jamaris Moore (Doddsville)

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Mr. Markell Copprue (great-grandson) Mr. Thurston Rawls (grandson) Mr. Garrick Rawls (grandson)

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Active Pallbearers