Monday, September 21, 2009

Gone To The Lord


Carol R. Marshall
May 4, 1953 - September 21, 2009

Far too soon for all of us who loved her so much, Carol is safely at home in the arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It is no surprise to the readers of this blog that Carol loved people. Her heart for others was only surpassed by her tremendous faith and a desire that all would come into a saving relationship with Christ and thereby know, as she has known, His peace, grace, mercy, and love. As a testament to this, even in her last days, Carol expressed a passionate concern for all those who may not know Christ, especially those who have shared this journey with her. In the depths of her heart, she wanted all of you to know that the purpose of this blog was about honoring Him. Carol was nothing if not a faithful servant of God.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he
has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to
those who love him."

James 1:12



A memorial service for Carol will be held at McLean Bible Church
2:00pm Thursday, September 24
8925 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22182

Reception following the service
Congressional Country Club
8500 River Road
Bethesda, MD 20817

For those friends of Carol's who are far away or can't attend, we are
planning to put the service on the internet, live at 2pm EST.
Please check back for details.


In lieu of flowers, Carol's family asks that donations be directed to:

The Carol Marshall Memorial Fund
c/o Dr. Dan Laheru
Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital
1650 Orleans St. Room 4M09
Baltimore, MD 21231-1000


Community Bible Study
790 Stout Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80921


The House DC
P.O. Box 30958
Washington, DC 20030










40 comments:

  1. Dear family, with all my love and my admiration I send you all a BIG HUG. Peace of the Lord will be with you.
    Thank you Sally
    Andrea

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  2. To Carol's Family - Carol was a ray of sunshine and hope here in life, she will now become and angel of hope and guidance in her new journey. Our prayers and thoughts are with you in this sad time, we pray that you can feel her warmth and joy surround you in the coming days and years, as we know she will always watch over you. Bernie, Trisha, Keith and your friends at National Air Cargo

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  3. What a great day for Carol and a hard day for those of us here. Thank you for keeping us updated. I have so many wonderful memories of Carol and her family and am thankful for the honor and glory that this blog and their lives have given the Lord.

    It will be a grand day when we are united in heaven!

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  4. A great woman and a life well-lived.
    We want Frank et al to know you have many friends out here for support in the months and years ahead. We look forward to happier occasions.
    The Saubers

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  5. It's so hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful friend. Carol will live in our hearts forever.

    Love to the family,

    Nancy, Jack & Mike

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  6. Carol was my CBS core leader who meant so much to me. I enjoyed her wit and wisdom given with her ever ready smile. Her depth of love and commitment for her Lord was a blessing to me that year. She's beat us all to Heaven - that most wonderful, beyond imagination place where I look forward to enjoying her again one day. My deep sympathy is with you, her family. As you grieve, the Lord will give you that peace that passes all understanding and His compassion that is new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

    Love to all of you,
    Becky Cooke

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  7. Dear Frank and Family,

    I am of course very sad to hear of Carol's passing. It is obvious to me by following this blog that Carol has brough light into many people's lives, and will be greatly missed. It makes me smile, however, to know that she is dancing with Jesus at this very moment and is home with him. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

    Brent Rose

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  8. Dear Frank and Family,
    Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are thinking of you and the beautiful life of Carol. May God's grace and peace be with you all. Love, Carrie Caldwell-Marquez and Family

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  9. Terry, Cindy, Emily, and KyleSeptember 21, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    Frank and all the Marshalls,

    Our most profound sympathies at your loss. Carol meant so much to so many.

    The Thomas Family

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  10. Praise God for Carol and the family. He will take you from strength to strength. We love you.

    Mark & Tricia Davis

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  11. I am sad, sad, sad. I can not believe this beautiful woman has left us. What a joy she was to know for 25 years. She was gorgeous, charismatic, eternally optimistic and had a joie de vivre that was unparallelled. Rest dear Carol. You are loved. With loving memories forever - Brenda (Larry too)

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  12. Dear Frank, Ruth, Wayne and Barbara, Christine and Erik, Andrew, Chip - we know the deep pain and sorrow we feel - we can only imagine what you feel. But we grieve for those left behind. An earlier post talked about Carol dancing with Jesus - what a great picture. And some day we will all see her again, making dinner at her great kitchen in heaven for all of us! So you can rejoice in her greatest happiness this day, and take comfort from all those of us who face great sorrow with you. You are not alone in this difficult time. Love, Patty and Jerry

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  13. To Frank, Ruth, Christine and Erik, Andrew and Chip-
    Carol was truly a woman who loved the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and body. She inspired so many in her walk and taught us all how much we can do to be a light to others. She will be deeply missed. Bless you and may God give you all strength and courage. Love, The Winningham Family

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  14. I only met Carol a few times but her warmth and genuine caring and concern for those around her left a lasting effect. I wish the entire family comfort and the love of the lord during this difficult time. With Gods Blessings Kelly Dolson

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  15. Frank,
    Carol was an amazing woman. I learned so much from her through our work at ERC Fellows. Her warmth and caring and deep respect for each person as a fellow human being came through in all that she did. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your children. With my deepest sympathy, Jo Pease

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  16. In Memory of Our Dear Friend ~ CAROL ~

    WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO LEAVE SINGING

    There are those who
    having held against hazard
    to some high course

    Invisible, perhaps,
    as the lark's soar into very sun

    May - as they lightly
    turn to go - cast back, with the last

    Of breath, to this world
    a still - still - undiminished song.

    (Poem by Doris Peel)

    Carol lives in our hearts as a bright light,
    a winged joy, and an undiminished song.

    With love and heart-felt sympathy
    from
    The Fabulous Ladies of Georgetown

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  17. What a beautiful, exemplary life! She will be so greatly missed by everyone who was ever so blessed to meet her.

    With an outpour of love,

    Lauren

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  18. Dear Family,
    My most heart felt condolences to you . She now rests in peace embraced by God's love for her loyal servant. As I was driving back up to DC from Florida yesterday afternoon around five o'clock she was very present to me.Perhaps because I appreciated it her so much , I was intuitively feeling she was soon to be carried up to Heaven by an army of singing angels . Blessed be God for giving us someone like her to experience HIS love.
    Much love to you ,
    Carla Somoza Portocarrero

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  19. I wonder if the Gospel of Mathew had any special significance for Carol. Because ,within the Catholic tradition we celebrate today the Feast of the Apostle Mathew. She was a faithfilled apostle !!!

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  20. To Carol's Family,

    I feel so fortunate to have met Carol - she had an instinct - knowing what the other person needed -through listening with her heart. I saw her touch so many lives (and bring so many people together) through her intellect, humor, and grace. Thanks for sharing her with us all. Martha Ries, David, Lauren and Ryan Day

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  21. What a blessing carol was! I remember baking Christmas cookies with her. Those moments in the kitchen she shared her heart and care and concerns. Her work at the good ole Christmas dinners was fun and diligent! What a perfect example of finishing well. Can't wait to dance with her in heaven!

    Sincerely,
    Janielle

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  22. [We had been praying for Carol, but I was unaware of this blog until now, after her death.] Carol's desire to share her faith has surely earned her a very special place in heaven. Carol's suffering and her undying love for Jesus reminds me a lot of St. Therese of Lisieux, known as "The Little Flower," who suffered terribly with tuberculosis before her death at age 24 on September 30, 1897 and she said, "my mission--to make God loved--will begin after my death; I will spend my heaven doing good on earth..." (www.littleflower.org). I can imagine Carol and St. Therese hanging out in heaven and strategizing over how they can help all of us "down here" come to know and love Jesus even more. Carol's suffering was not in vain because she endured it with great love and she bravely used her suffering as a way to reach out to others showing them that even in her pain she knew that God loved her and was with her. We wish Carol's family the warmth and peace of Christ's love as they grieve the loss of Carol, a wife, mother, sister and friend.
    May God bless all of you.
    Sincerely,
    Angela & Brian Kennedy

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  23. I am so sorry for the loss of Carol...but "to live is Christ and to die is gain". Dear Carol lived this verse fully and is now safely in the arms of her Savior. If this comforts you, good. If it doesn't, follow Carol's example and seek to personally know Jesus the way Carol did in this life...and you will be saved and comforted by the Great Comforter. May God be with all of you during this time of sadness. Love, Elisa

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  24. We will miss you Carol. The little interactions with you was very precious and it was great to know a person who keeps lot of values and being pleasant all the time and had given warmth to all she dealt with. Wish her soul to rest in peace in Lord's hands. Heart felt condolences to all in the family.

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  25. "...and He will bear you up on eagle's wings...."

    Frank and Family,

    Carol will continue to guide us and watch over us all as she always did but now free of mortal pain. For both of these things, we should be thankful. I hope the day soon comes when the memories of the long hard fight fade and you can remember that wonderful smile, and the happiest times. May Peace be with you.

    Bill Garcia

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  26. This is a great loss. . . but Carol leaves us with a wonderful sense of PEACE.

    We will miss seeing her wave from the porch.

    Our sympathies and LOVE to you all.
    Joanne & Bob

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  27. Frank,
    Very sorry indeed to hear of Carol's passing.
    We are thinking of you and the family, and remembering Carol, with all her vivacity and warmth, in happier times, on Gooseneck Rd.
    Angus & Irina

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  28. Frank,

    I am so very sorry to hear of Carol's passing. I have been reading much of this blog as Jeanette informed me of things some time ago. I wish you all the best during this time of pain and healing.
    Mary Webb

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  29. Now that Carol has passed from one life to another she will continue guiding us and caring for us. In the book 'The Road Less Traveled', which she left at our home after one of her many visits to Luxembourg, she underlined "grace is earned" and "we both choose grace and are chosen by it." There are no better words to describe what her life has been all about. Her beautiful smile, her cheerful laughter and her amazing grace will always remain with us.
    Our heartfelt sympathy to Frank and all the Marshalls and to Ruth, whose stay with us we'll never forget.
    Andre, Joseane, Anne-Marie, Michel and Catherine

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  30. Frank and Family,

    SAFELY HOME

    I am home in Heaven, dear ones,
    Oh, so happy and so bright
    There is perfect joy and beauty
    In this everlasting light.

    All the pain and grief is over,
    Every restless tossing passed;
    I am now at piece forever
    Safely home in Heaven at last.

    Did you wonder I so calmly
    Trod the valley of the shade?
    Oh! but Jesus' love illumined
    Every dark and fearful glade.

    And He came Himself to meet me
    In that way so hard to tread;
    And with Jesus' arm to lean on,
    Could I have one doubt or dread?

    Then you must not grieve so sorely,
    For I love you dearly still:
    Try to look beyond earths shadows,
    Pray to trust our Fathers Will.

    There is work still waiting for you,
    So you must not idly stand:
    Do it now while life remaineth-
    You shall rest in Jesus' land.

    When that work is all completed,
    He will gently call you Home;
    Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
    Oh, the joy to see you come!

    All our love in your time of sorrow,
    Wally and Eileen

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  31. Dear Frank, Christine, Chip, Andrew and Ruth,

    Our hearts our heavy with the loss of Carol. She fought a brave fight and made us all feel uplifted throughout these past months. Her spirit will live amongst us until we are reunited in the Lord's home. Be at peace, feel the love of God and be wrapped in his loving arms.
    With love,
    Nancy, Dan, and Sam

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  32. Dear Frank and family -

    We were so blessed to have known Carol and to be touched by her life. She was an amazing woman through good and bad times. We will always have such fond memories of her. The Christmas dinners were so much fun - she made sure we had fun - but all the while knowing the reason for them was to reach others for Christ! What a blessing to have left such a wonderful legacy. When you read through her blog you see how many lives she touched in so many ways.

    We are so sorry for your loss and pain that you have been going through - we will continue to keep you all in prayer! She will be greatly missed!

    We love you -
    Bob & Joyce Johnson & family

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  33. Carol was one of the kindest people I ever worked with. Her positive energy, keen intelligence and delightful wit always brightened the office and elevated the task at hand.

    I truly believe Carol was an angel loaned to us so we could see a perfect example of God's love. Weren't we all better people for having known Carol? If she whispers anything in your ear now, perhaps something like "Be kind and love one another" is what you'd hear.

    Sincerely,
    Marcia Knowlton

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  34. Dear Frank, Chip, Christine, Andrew & Ruth,
    My heart aches for your loss. Carol truely was the epitomy of wife, mother, daughter, friend, mentor and child of God. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that this loss has affected every single person who knows your family from far and wide. There is nothing anyone can say to lessen your grief. Hopefully knowing that she was so special, will help just a small amount.
    With Love,
    Carol Jaramillo

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  35. The following piece is helping me deal with the loss of our beautiful Carol:

    When somebody dies, a cloud turns into an angel and flies up to tell God to put another flower on a pillow. A bird gives the message back to the world and sings a silent prayer that makes the rain cry. People disappear, but they never really go away. The spirits up there put the sun to bed, wake up the grass, and spin the Earth in dizzy circles. Sometimes you can see them dancing in a cloud during the daytime when they're supposed to be sleeping. They paint the rainbows and also the sunsets and make waves splash and tug at the tide. They toss shooting stars and listen to wishes. And when they sing windsongs, they whisper to us, "Don't miss me too much. The view is nice, and I'm doing just fine."

    We KNOW Carol is doing just fine with the Lord. We'll be listening for her.

    We send all the dear Marshall family our heartfelt sympathy, love and prayers. We're here for you, xox June and Steve

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  36. To the family of Carol R. Marshall, I was out of the email link today and just found out about my sister in Christ. I have a heavy heart for I will miss her but my spirit is happy as she is now resting with the Maker. I know her spirit will live on forever in the memories of her.

    When peace like a river....it is well with her soul. I will meet her someday just over in the glory land.

    God loves you and so do I.
    AME Pastor

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  37. A Traditional prayer:

    Exalted, compassionate God, grant perfect peace in Your sheltering Presence, among the holy and the pure who shine with the splendor of the firmament, to the soul of our dear Carol who has gone to her eternal home. Master of mercy, remember all her worthy deeds in the land of the living. May her soul be bound up in the bond of life. May her memory always inspire us to attain dignity and holiness in life. May she rest in peace.

    Love,
    The Levys

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  38. To Frank and Family,

    We sorry with you for the parting with Carol at this time. We rejoice with Carol in her home going. May the sweet memories of a life well lived encourage you in your time of loneliness.

    Love and Prayers,

    Lawrence and Barbara Hoke

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  39. I can hear Carol's voice telling us:

    Do not stand at my grave and weep.
    I am not there. I do not sleep.
    I am a thousand winds that blow.
    I am the diamond glints on snow.
    I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
    I am the gentle autumn's rain.
    When you awaken in the morning's hush,
    I am the swift uplifting rush
    of quiet birds in circled flight.
    I am the soft stars that shine at night.
    Do not stand at my grave and cry;
    I am not there. I did not die.

    Dear Frank and family,
    We are so sorry for your great loss. There are no words to ease the pain. You are in our prayers.

    Love,
    Tony and Joanne

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  40. "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Carol most certainly heard this greeting as she entered into Paradise. Truly, she was an inspiration to all who knew her. She gave us a glimpse of the Father's gracious heart. Our hearts are heavy for you, Frank, and for all your family. You have suffered a great loss. The Kingdom of God here on earth has suffered a great loss. May the Peace of the Lord be your great comfort in the days ahead. Please know that you all will remain in our prayers. Love, Mark and Susan Wallace

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