MARTIN, Marguerite Sherman O’Malley-Born January 29, 1921, and died peacefully in her home on August 26 after a debilitating stroke ten days earlier. Marguerite (Marge) is preceded in death by her mother and father, Annie and Martin O’Malley; her beloved husband, The Rev. Harold Odest Martin, Jr. (Episcopal priest); and her daughter-in-law Nancy. She is survived by her sister, Annette Ciannella (Rev. Domenic, Episcopal priest), Long Island, N.Y.; her children Harold III (Sally), Satellite Beach, Fla.; Jonathan (Fiona) Vero Beach, Fla.; Peter, Grapevine, Texas; Sarah (Mickey) McConnell, Nashville, Tenn.; Priscilla (Ted) Battley, Pascagoula, Miss.; and Mary (Ed) Alleman, Kady, Texas; her grandchildren Alicia and Patrick, Matthew and Luke, Charles, Andrew, Will and Annie, and Abbie, Maryanne and Martin; her great-grandchildren Teagan, Aidan, Finley and Emily; and numerous nieces and nephews. Marge was born in Baltimore, Md., and graduated from Eastern High and YMCA Business School. She met her husband, Harold, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Baltimore, where they were married. His career then took them to Green Island, N.Y.; Houston, Texas; Greenville, Miss.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Pascagoula, Miss.; and Bossier City, La., before retiring in Moss Point, Miss. Marge worked as a medical and executive secretary and physicians’ office manager. Her philosophy, “Bloom where you are planted,” reveals her sunny, optimistic nature. She was a loving wife and a devoted, fun-loving mother and grandmother. She had a strong faith and abiding love for her church and its community. Sweet and empathetic, with an easy smile, a great sense of humor and an open and caring nature, Marge cultivated close friendships with people of all ages. She was tender and patient with children, attentive to the elderly and loved cats and dogs, with many adopted as family pets over the years. An award winning author of short stories and poetry, she was an avid storyteller, reader and letter writer. She enjoyed art, drawing, painting and flower gardening, and participating as a local thespian in Pas-Point Players little theater. Talented in culinary arts and a gracious hostess, Marge also loved to entertain. Her home reflected her artistic sensibilities, her love of family and her appreciation of all things beautiful. As a young mother, Marge served as leader for her sons’ Cub Scout troop and was an active participant in the PTA. Throughout her adult life, she enjoyed volunteering at the local hospital, playing bridge with friends and served many years as a Daughter of the King and as an associate of St. Mary’s Convent, Sewanee, Tenn. After retirement, her favorite activities included attending movies, theater, opera and symphony concerts on the Gulf Coast and laughing with her friends in their water aerobics class in Pascagoula. At age 84, displaced by Hurricane Katrina just six weeks after being diagnosed with mid-stage Alzheimer’s, Marge moved to Nashville to live with her daughter Sarah and devoted son-in-law Mickey. She quickly made new friends, capturing the hearts of all at FiftyForward Adult Day Services program which she attended daily. Based on her love of life and enduring passion for music and dancing (Boy, could she jitterbug - and was still tap dancing at age 87!), Marge inspired the not-for-profit program, Music for Seniors, launched in Nashville in 2007 by her daughter Sarah. Services will be held on Thursday, September 1, at St. Pierre’s Episcopal Church, Gautier, Miss. Visitation with the family will be from 11 a.m. until noon, followed by the funeral service with Holy Eucharist, and committal at Gautier Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Music for Seniors, in care of FiftyForward, 174 Rains Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.