Tribute to Marjorie Castleberry

How do I write a tribute to one who is an important part of my own online ministry and loved by many others? Such an undertaking requires help from others who love and respect this lady. My thanks to those who contributed to this page with their thoughts about Marjorie. I'll begin with a bit of my own narrative.

Marjorie is brilliant yet humble. She has a sweet and caring spirit, yet she has the courage of her convictions and like a mother to her friends and loved ones, she does not hesitate to gently chide or correct, without judgment, when she sees the need. She does so with a splash of humor and wit that makes her a joy to be around. She is steadfast and faithful in her gentle and loving nurturing of those around her, a character trait that has earned her the nickname of 'Mother Marj.'

When you're down, you can rely on Marjorie to stand by you, encourage and lift you up, and help you carry your load. Marjorie founded and coordinates an online prayer team called, Evergreen. She puts many long hours and prayer into that calling, despite her many health challenges. Her dedication, her steadfast faithfulness to, and love for that calling has led to answered prayer in many lives. She tirelessly receives and posts daily requests and praise reports. The list keeps growing because of the personal touch and compassion she lends to the needs of those hurting and in distress.

Not only is Marjorie a dedicated minister of The Father's Love to others, she is multi talented. Her other gifts include, of course her writing expertise, but she is also a musician, songwriter, and she paints artistic scenes as well.

Marjorie does all this with no expectation of reward other than knowing she is fulfilling a ministry she is called to. For that reason I wanted to give members of the prayer team a chance to give thanks to her and show just a small portion of the appreciation we have for her. She is the first to always give the Lord the credit for anything she is able to do to help others. Since she would never boast or exault herself, we want to do a little of that from our own perspectives! Here are some comments shared to express thanks and love to a woman of God, Marjorie Castleberry.

Words can't began to express how much I love and appreciate Marjorie.

I have known Marjorie for a number of years, but really got close to her when she worked at Crawford and Co. He desk was right next to mine, we became like Sisters or at least for me. She has been such an inspiration to me in so many ways. He heart for the Lord and her compassion for people and their needs is what makes her so special. This prayer team is a real blessing to so many people and we have Mother Marji. to thank for this great ministry.

I love her and appreciate her more than she will ever know. If I have a prayer request or a problem I need to talk to someone about I know Marjorie will listen and offer advise if needed and always prayes for me. I wish her the best always and pray for her strength and health.

Thank you Mother Marj. I love you.

Dorothy Byrd

Marjorie, you know how much I do love you. But, I would like to tell you how you have impacted my life. When we first met, I wasn't a good Christian. When we rode to work together and talked, those talks impacted me and caused me to question some things and begin to change my life. It took a while, but I did turn my life around. You will never, ever know how much you mean to me.

How much you have helped me so many times when I needed it. How God's sweet love just shines right through your beautiful eyes and lovely face. How much I love seeing you when I can and how much I enjoy our e-mails and our time together. Your advice and guidance and thoughts you have given me on so many of my own issues have really helped me find peace.

Your love and tender care while my Dad was so sick helped make it bearable. Your love and advice for the situations with my Mother have helped me beyond measure. You have been a blessing to my life. You have made a good difference in my life and so many times have given me peace that has enabled me to calm myself to listen for God's sweet, quiet voice.

Thank you for everything you have done for me and my family. It is my prayer that God continues to bless you and your family.

Joyce Reid

For Marjorie: Thank you seems so small for all you do and all you are We are so thankful each time we see your name on the E-mail, we know prayers are going up for all in need. Introducing us to the Evergreen Team was truly a work of God.

As family you have always been an inspiration to us. May God give you peaceful days and restful night.

Our love, Jeannette and Kent

I work for Crawford & Company and we met while she was still working for the location unit. She and I had fairly frequent contact. She had asked me one day how things were and I shared some difficulties I was going through. I know the Lord led her to do this. I was not saved at the time, just accepted the Lord in July 2006. My family had been going through some difficulties and Marjorie lent her prayers and kindness to us. She has been there through some of the most difficult times in my life, through the difficulties of my daughter's illness, the death of my mother and father, the death of my granddaughter. I could go on an on. She seems to always have the exact words of encouragement that I need....without me saying anything.

She is a faithful servant of the Lord and I am truly blessed to know her, even if it is only through email. I cannot even begin to imagine how many prayer request emails she gets on a daily basis, which she faithfully passes on, despite her own health issues. She is a blessing to us all on the Evergreen Prayer Team!

Josie

My Sweet Mother Marjorie, You will never know how much all of your emails have meant tome these past three years. You are such a blessing to me. I know there are so many times you don't feel like sending all your emails out, but have been so faithful with the many prayer requests I have sent to you, and they're always answered.

May our precious Father keep His arms around you, give you the strength you need to carry on. I know I have never met you in person. I have talked to you on the phone, but I feel like we're family, and of course we are 'sisters' in Christ. I am so thankful for that.

Hugs from your sister out in Calif.
Shanon Lawson

Marjorie is such a special friend to me, she has prayed for my family many times. She has a special place in my heart. She is the most caring person I have ever known. She is loving, kind and humble. I just love her!!! She also has a funny side and can make you laugh and cry at the same time. She is just precious and in touch in our loving God every day of her life.

Diane Stowers

I'm so glad to call Marjorie my cousin. I wish we were closer growing up but I'm very glad I have her in my life now. She is truly a blessing to me and to all my family. She never asks anything for herself, only others. She is a great friend and I appreciate all the kindness she has shown us throughout my life.

She is a great lady and I love her very much.

Willene Denney

Marjorie is an inspiration to me... she never complains and she always have time for others. Marjorie loves the Lord and she does all she does in His name. Her commitment to prayer comes before anything else. It does not matter if she does not feel well, she will still do it. I am glad to have her for a friend.

Mimi Bowker

I have never met or spoke to Marjorie via phone. I know here through my spiritual mentor, Elnora, who is in the next city over from me here in Southern California.

Marjorie, instantly welcomed me many months ago when I joined the Evergreen Team. Since that time she has, in addition to our regular e-mails, periodically sends me personal e-mail notes to check on me, continued words of encouragement (especially as I continue to seek employment), and impart via e-mail wonderful blessings that I REALLY DO FEEL.

She is just wonderful. That's it!
Sometimes the simplist messages are the most effective.

Thanks, Sonya

Marjorie found me on another's web site in 2002. She liked my music and contacted me by email. We began to form a friendship that would become a major part of the formation and inspiration for my own web site, which was in the making, as well as a blessing in my personal life. I discovered early on that Marjorie was a gifted writer of inspirational poetry and stories, many of which are now featured on my pages. She has a way of expressing in her writing what many of us sometimes feel and think but are not able to put into words. That is the writer's gift and I've been fortunate that she has always been graciously generous in her contributions to my site.

Early in the founding of my site I was attacked with false accusations by another webmaster, totally without cause. I was devastated because of the mean spirited attempt to slander me, and considered giving up the idea of the online ministry. Marjorie was there for me during that distressing time with words of comfort and wisdom. She made me see that my own integrity would see me through. She encouraged me to stay on the path as the Lord was leading me. It would have been easy to give up as I wasn't prepared for conflict of that kind. But I gained the strength and resolve to persevere because of Marjorie's faithfulness and friendship.

Since then, she has grown to be a dearly beloved friend and has helped with my online ministry in so many ways. I owe her a great many thanks for her believing in me and sticking with me, as they say, 'through thick and thin!'

Love Always,

Genelle

Marjorie is family by way of our Heavenly Father who put us on the same path 50 years ago in Augusta, Ga. Music was our connection that lead to fun and children, cooking, eating and building our lives thru our mutual interests. I was there when Craig, her first born came into this world. Then along came Dawn and Melody. What a joyful family they are. We have a long history of loving each other in the Lord and melding our same interests. I agree she is a unique and multi-talented individual and outstanding in so many ways and especially serving our God thru Intercessory Prayer for others across the country. I love her as family and friend and love her children as well .... we are bonded together for life. I declare wisdom, good health, all of God's providences to her this day and always.

Special love, Elnora Hall

Marjorie Castleberry is a Proverbs 31 woman after God's Own Heart. What a blessings she and the prayer team have been to our lives over the last two years. May God grant her many more years of life on this earth and give her a mansion in heaven.

Myra Reidy

What a privilege to have become acquainted with Mother Marj through Genelle's website. After reading Marj's autobiography, I contacted her concerning some art work. As we became acquainted, we joined hand in hand with our prayer teams to have more people praying for one another. I have never had anyone inquire about my children and other prayer requests as Mother Marjorie has. If I neglect to send an update about the condition of those for whom I have asked prayer, I can expect an email from Marj asking about them. I have often emailed Marj with family matters that were personal and were never shared with the rest of the prayer team. Many of those prayers have been answered and I know it was God who granted the requests as we agreed together in prayer. Prayer is an awesome tool that God has given us, and we should never take it lightly. I make a note of the requests as they come in; then I take the list to our prayer meeting group on Tuesday mornings where I call aloud each name and pray for each one individually as others are there agreeing with me in prayer for each of you. Then the list is put into the prayer box and others may also pray over them.

Thank God for prayer warrious who will stand with us in the time of need. We certainly need one another. May we all stand together for the one great cause: That we might love one another!!!

Thank you Mother Marj for being there for all of us!!!

With much love, A fellow traveler,
Mildred Music

Mother Marg has been a great blessing to so many people with here tireless efforts. She is truly called by God. She has been a blessing to me and and my family. I wish Mother Marg and her family a very Merrry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Joyce Monroe (Evergreen Prayer Team)

To our Mother Marj. A wonderful prayer warrior and a wonderful friend. She has always been there for me while we worked at the same company and after retiring. I do miss seeing her every day here at work. I miss her lovely smile and her bright eyes. I am so blessed the Lord had our paths to cross.

Jeff

From Melody, Craig, and Dawn
Mother Marj's Childrend

From Melody, Craig and me about our wonderful Mother....

"We've heard in Mother's Day sermons at church, that the hardest work there is, is the work of a Mother. If anyone can define, the finest example of a Mother, it would be our Mother, also known as "Mother Marj". She is a Mother of unconditional love for her children and has worked hard, all of her life, to make sure that we were safe, loved, cared for, provided for, protected, encouraged, to make sure that we utilized our talents, and gave us the freedom to dream and reach new heights. If we had struggles, she was there right beside us.

When there were holidays and special events, she made them very very special. She gave the clothes off her back (and more), to make sure we had everything that we needed.

When we were children, she made memorizing Bible versus fun by rewarding us with ice cream...but the even greater reward years later, was that we still remembered and lived by those verses. The first verse she gave us, was Proverbs 3:5&6...still to this day, it is a favorite.

Her love for her family, friends, and adopted Mother Marj kids, is the greatest example of a Godly lady, that lives for Christ in everything that she does and says. We are blessed beyond words, for what she means to us. She will become shorter when they put her crown on in heaven because it will be filled with so many jewels!!!

We pray that God makes her years long, because of what she means to us, and what she gives to us in our hearts daily. We love her and will never be able to put into words, how much we appreciate all that she has done for our lives.

WE LOVE YOU MOTHER!!!