"Let the mountains give exuberant witness . . . 
Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy."  
                                                                            ~ Psalm 72:3-4

God made an indelible impression on Margaret’s heart when her father moved the family into the home that his parents built in rural Appalachia.  For two years, from ages five to seven, Margaret lived a simple country life. Days of sitting atop steep hills and imagining distant places, reading storybooks, riding her pony and walking to the little church up the road are some of her fondest childhood memories.

When Margaret returned to suburban Maryland, she left a big part of her heart in North Carolina.  The entire family desired to move back, but the necessity to work insisted they remain. Nothing, however, could deprive them of their joyful summer vacations “back home.”

During one such visit, while in her teens, Margaret attended a Wednesday night service with her mother, her mother’s sister and her cousin at a tiny country church.  The Holy Spirit convicted on Margaret’s heart, and she knew it was time to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Fearfully, Margaret stepped up to the altar and knelt. After repenting and asking Jesus to come into her heart, Margaret secretly asked God to give her a sign that her soul had been redeemed.  Immediately, Margaret’s aunt spoke softly, “He has forgiven you.”  Margaret opened her eyes to see that her aunt, her mother, her cousin and the entire congregation were kneeling and standing alongside her, praying and weeping.  These expressions of God’s love and grace forever altered Margaret’s heart.

College soon came, and Margaret decided to attend the University of Maryland so that she could live at home and reduce expenses.  One day, when tuition was due, Margaret cried out to God for help. In her moment of desperation, she made a vow to God that if He would provide for her and bring success in her writing, she would bless others in her position.

In 2005, Margaret founded the God’s Love At Work Foundation for the purpose of fulfilling this vow.  Seventy percent of the proceeds of 100 Passengers is donated to God’s Love At Work Foundation for the purpose of providing need-based scholarships to students of Appalachian heritage.  The remaining 30 percent is reinvested in the God's Love At Work For Women webministry.

Currently, Margaret lives in the Atlanta area with her husband, Glynn.  They frequently visit the folks “back home,” including Margaret’s parents, who retired there.

The photos are some of Margaret's favorite scenes and are from her personal collection; from top to bottom:

1. Liberty Baptist Church, Whitehead, Nc.
2. A roadside along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Nc.
3. Stone Mountain State Park, Traphill, Nc.
4. Birdhouse & grapevine, Sparta, Nc.

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