A Time to be Born

82 years ago, on January 2, 1938, a beautiful, sassy, and classy diva by the name of Ira Mae Copeland-Square was born. She was born to the parentage of the late Carlisle Copeland and Lucille Walker-Copeland in Italy, Texas. Ira was so special that she was gifted with two birthdays. Because of a social security error, February 2, 1938, became her legal birthday.

A Time to Grow

Ira's educational journey began at the Historic Stafford School in Italy, Texas. After school, she went into the workforce. She was a very hard-working woman. In fact, she was known as the "caretaker" of the family. She worked in dry-cleaning services, nursing home facilities, and Waxahachie ISD. Eventually, she retired from Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian, Texas. Mother Square, as she was affectionately called, was a very nurturing woman. She was the proud mother of 11 children. She was a true example of Proverbs 22:6 because she trained her children in the admonition of the Lord and made it mandatory that hey attend church and honor the Lord. On October 22, 1988, she entered holy matrimony with the late, Rev. Hyman Roscoe Square, whom she loved dearly.

A Time to Serve God

Mother Square accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age. She was a proud, faithful, and dedicated member of the Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church. She served as a choir member, kitchen committee member, missionary society president, and as First Lady from 1988 to 2001 until she received the honor of First Lady Emeritus. In her younger days, she could be seen at the church hosting bake sales, cooking, and selling burgers, chicken, fish, and whatever the kitchen committee members deemed appropriate to help increase the kingdom of God. Mother Square, through God's grace and mercy, poured blood, sweat, tears, and love into the Mt. Gilead Church family. As a reward of her faithfulness, Pastor Dixon and the Mt. Gilead Church family honored her once a year with First Lady Emeritus Day. She diligently served the Lord until he called her home. Mother Square loved and cherished Pastor Preston E. and First Lady Kechia Dixon, who treated her with the utmost respect and tender kindness.

A Time to Live

Granny Mae, as most called her, was the LIFE of the party. There was never a dull moment when you were in her presence. Granny Mae was a life coach, a personal counselor, a disciplinarian, a chef (creating casseroles was her favorite thing to do), a shelter provider, a prayer warrior, and a comedian at heart. She will be dearly missed on the daily 7 am prayer calls because she always kept everyone laughing

A Time to Rest

On Saturday, June 20, 2020, Mother Square's life here on earth sadly came to an end. I find comfort in knowing that although we LOVED her, GOD LOVED her more. Mother Square is safe with the Lord and was greeted at the Heavenly Gates by both her parents, her husband, four sons: Stevie Copeland, Jaron Square, Royce Square and Ricky Copeland; three sisters: Ida Copeland-Lewis, Cora Sue Copeland-Taylor and Marilyn Kaye Copeland-Speed. To continue her legacy, Mother Square leaves behind three daughters: Debra (Dennis Sr.) Perkins, Gayle (James) Williams, and Carla Ransom; seven sons: Kenneth (Barbara) Copeland, Edwin (Phyllis) Copeland, Kevin Copeland, Jeffrey Copeland, Kent Bernard Butler Sr., Roland (Areya) Square and Darian Butler Sr.; one brother and sister in law, whom she loved with all of her heart, Billy (Mary) Copeland; one brother-in-law, Christopher Speed; one special grandson/caretaker, Dennis Perkins Jr.; one special granddaughter, Shenetria Johnson; three special nieces: Demetria Copeland-Smith, Malinkca Woodson and Stephanie Ratliff; one special god-daughter, Frances Allen; two special friends, Euralonda Gates & Roshunda Walker; 36 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.