Gospel Songwriter, Margaret Coppinger Mabry, Passes Away

Mary Margaret Coppinger Mabry, age 95, passed away peacefully Aug, 14, 2015, at Hinton Home in Farmersville. Funeral services will be at First Assembly of God Church on Tuesday, Aug, 18, 2015, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Joyce Pattison, Rev. R. C. Helms, Rev. Roy Carrico, Mike Porter and Don Coppinger officiating.  

Burial will be at Memoryland Memorial Park.  Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, from 6 to 8 p.m.at Coker Mathews Funeral Home.

Mrs. Mabry was born in Greenville on Dec. 27, 1919, the daughter of Thomas Richard "Tom" Coppinger and Eula Belle Horrocks Coppinger. She was affectionately known as Sister Mabry, Aunt Margaret and Mary to the many people whose lives she touched during her 95-year journey in this life.  

"Sister Mabry" was a member of the Pentecostal Church of God, having recently been recognized by her denomination for 60 years of dedication as an ordained minister. While living in Greenville in her later years, she attended First Pentecostal Church of God.  

Margaret attended schools in Greenville and continued her education in Biblical studies. She also attended nursing school and became a licensed ECG Technician.She pastored churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana for 45 years along with her husband.  She was a sought after Bible teacher, convention speaker, and writer, having authored two books and hundreds of poems.  

Mrs. Mabry was also an accomplished musician who traveled over the country singing and playing her beloved Martin guitar. As a young adult she traveled with the Gunn Sisters Trio of Winnsboro and it was during this time that she met and married Rev. M. D. Mabry on Sept. 11, 1938, in Soper, Okla.  

Margaret wrote, arranged and published many gospel songs over the years and produced two musical albums.  She wrote songs that were recorded by such well known artists as Dottie Rambo, The Florida Boys, The Inspirations and Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis. The Inspirations quartet recorded Margaret's well known song, "The Golden Street Parade" which is still heard over gospel radio.

Mrs. Mabry was preceded in death by her husband in 1983, her parents and her step-mother, Lois Gunn Coppinger.  Also preceding her in death were her beloved brothers and sisters, Euclid Ray, Thomas Edwin, Kenneth Nile, Gerald Harry, Joseph Lee, and Billy Wayne Coppinger; Eleanor Katherine Cunningham, Lyda Faye Abell and Edna Jean Freeman.

Survivors include her brothers, Don Coppinger and wife, Judith of Greenville and Thomas A. Coppinger of Como; sisters, Sandra Coppinger Tate and Sharon Reilly and husband, Larry, both of Greenville. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Mrs. Gerald (Mae) Coppinger of Kaufman, Mrs. Joseph (Peggy) Coppinger of Hawkins, Mrs. Billy (Ruby) Coppinger of Wylie, and Mrs. Gilbert (Shirley) Mabry of Alexandria, LA.  

 

 

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