This was sent to Echoes for them to include in their magazine.

Mary had come to know the Lord Jesus as her Saviour as a teenager, through the children’s work run by a local Christian in her own village, West Midlands. She was deeply touched by the martyrdom of the five missionaries in Ecuador and knew God’s call to commit her life to serve Him. Over a period of several years God prepared her for the work He would call her to. She had four years working in a shop, trained with the National Children’s Homes and went to Capernwray Bible School. Mary joined the staff at Sakeji School, Zambia in October 1967 where she worked on the home side. She was a quiet and gentle person who had a genuine love for the hundreds of missionary and Zambian children she cared or and helped in the dormitory for 28 years. She was a very practical person and her skills and abilities were much used in the home-side of the school. She organised the laundry and took her full share of responsibility in the kitchen. She took care of purchasing local produce and during the school holidays she oversaw the buying of bulk food supplies.

Mary will be remembered by many for her love of animals and for the help and encouragement she gave the boys and girls as they cared for their pets. Although she was serious minded she had a ready sense of fun and was easily approachable by the children. She was able to help with a number of school activities like games, PE, gardening and handwork. She took her share of evening prayer-times and for

many years had a village Sunday school through which she made many valuable friends and was able to help them in a number of ways.

Mary returned to the UK in late 1995 and for the remaining year of her life continued to reach out to young and old alike. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and through the treatments and uncertainties this