Marjorie passed to glory yesterday morning.
Her sister, her daughter, her nephew, a good friend and I were with her. We prayed and wished her peace and breadth from the dawn to about ten in the morning and then she left us peacefully. It was a gentle crossing.
I sat with her till the late afternoon when the men came to take her, and the family gathered on the street as she was driven away.
Our good friend Hope Johnson was installed as minister of the congreation in Garden City (Long Island) New York and many of her friends and colleagues were there and they tell me that Marjorie's name was lifted up as part of the celebration.
The family gathered here and we shared my photographs of her and memories into the late evening
Marjorie said "my life is a prayer. She witnessed Jesus with her life, praying always.
I'm sorry for your loss, Clyde. I'm glad Marjorie went peacefully. She touched my life and many others. We'll look forward to seeing her on the other side.
That's good news about Hope, I didn't know. Thanks for sharing that.
Peace and blessings to you.
Clyde
We are so sorry for your sad loss. Marjorie has gone ahead to where we shall all, in the scheme of things, soon enough follow.
God bless to you both,
Your parishioners,
Donal & Helen
My heart aches today for Clyde,all her family and the many many friends whose lives have been enriched by Marjorie's presence among us. I was privileged to get to know Marjorie at Shelter Rock when she worked in the Veatch Program and I was on the Ministerial Team. It was then that I first appreciated her wisdom, her humor, deep caring and above all her grace. I was overjoyed to learn that she was coming to SanDiego,but it was not to be. We are all the poorer for her having left us so soon, but I am grateful for the time she shared her beautiful self with us
Clyde,
My prayers are with you and Marjorie's other family members. What a great loss to all of us... and yet what a gentle crossing of the Great Threshold you all provided for her.
Peace,
Erika
Clyde, My prayers, thoughts, and love are with you and your family at this time. Marjorie and you have been an inspiration in my life and thank you both for everything that you have given me and others through your love and wisdom.
All my love
Elandria Williams
I'm filled with sadness that such a beautiful, talented and warm hearted woman as Marjorie was no longer walks the earth. There is grief that Unitarian Universalism loses a brilliant minister. Our common work will suffer without her living presence.
Clyde, my heart goes out to you as you grieve the loss of your life partner. Hold the pain and the gratitude together brother.
Marjorie lives on among us in her music and words. I hope those can be uploaded to the web someplace if they are not already. Let me know if I can help in that process.
Blessed are we to have human birth.
Blessed are we to love passionately.
Blessed are we to depart in peace.
Love and peace, Sam
Dear Clyde,
Such sad news. All of us in her old UUA staff group met today and shared memories of Marjorie, a wonderful woman who truly blessed life. Her legacy will continue blessing life even with her passing. I am so sad that she is gone. You and your family are in my prayers as you grieve.
Clyde, namaste.
I'm so saddened by this news and our loss. The world seems a little dimmer. You and the rest of Marjorie's family is in my prayers.
Dear Clyde,
Thank you, Clyde, for all that the two of you have shared with so many across the country - a living prayer, indeed.
As one who admired Marjorie from a distance, I am among those many UUs who was really looking forward to her ministry here in California. While that is not to be, I am thankful for the insight, intellect, grace and passion that she so generously shared.
My love and prayers are with you in this time of loss,
Lindi Ramsden
Dear Clyde,
I am so, so sorry. My prayers are with you and everyone who loved Marjorie.
So many of us who did not even know her personally will feel this loss deeply.
Peace,
Amy
God be with you all, Clyde. Thanks for including us. Take care and take heart.
dear Clyde
sad news...love and tenderness to you. what a tremendous life she lived, what a profound loss...an inspiring legacy.
love and blessings
alicia
Dear Clyde,
May you be held in the deep embrace of the everlasting arms, as we know that Marjorie is. I weep to think of all we lose in losing her, and shout hallelujah at how much we have gained in her witness with us in her time on earth. Marjorie's memory is a blessing to all who knew her.
Much love to you, dear one, as you walk this next phase of the journey.
Dear Clyde,
I am so sorry to hear of Marjorie's passing. I loved her and admired her and learned from her. Her warmth, humor, and graciousness combined beautifully with her sharp mind, deep spirit, and loving commitments to our calling as ministers and people of faith. I am immensely grateful for her leadership, and yours, on counter-oppressive and anti-racism work, grounded in the Spirit and in community. Most of all, I'm grateful to have known her and to have received her friendship and support on so many occasions.
My prayers are with you.
I will carry her spirit close to my heart, always, and seek to keep faith with the commitments we shared.
Peace,
Rebecca
Rebecca Parker
President and Professor of Theology, Starr King School
Dear Clyde,
I am saddened by the loss we all share at Marjorie's passing. I will keep you in my prayers, Clyde, in this time of grief.
The comments here are testament of Marjorie's ministry, the prayer she made of her life. I, too, knew her only from a distance, but admired her beauty and her strength.
We've all lost so much in Marjorie, and no one more than you, Clyde. I'll keep you in my prayers
Christine
Dear Clyde,
My heart is aching today for your loss and the loss to all of us of Marjorie's bright spirit. She gave herself unselfishly to her work and to her family and friends. Her life has enriched all of us.
Kit
Clyde, we are so saddened to hear of Marjorie's passing. She was a poet, a prophet, an artist, a minister, a friend. Her gentle wisdom and clear vision brought gifts to our movement and our world. She knows now the wonder of the Mystery...and her light will continue to be with us all.
thank you Clyde. I was glad I helped Marjorie, I hope she was comfortable because of my nursing care.
Dear Clyde and Family and Friends,
I was able to work with Marjorie when UUSC helped start statewide organizer's networks, and the Tampa church, with Marjorie at the helm, took up the task. I deeply appreciated her energy and willingness to try something new, while being so deeply grounded. Her book, SoulWork, sitting on my shelf now, well thumbed, was an inspiration to me. My heart goes out to you, with prayers and blessings, Love, Pam
Dear Clyde,
You remain in my prayers as I grieve Marjorie's death and give thanks for her life. I have thought of both you every day for weeks now, in prayer as well as in the course of my work.
I think of her steadiness especially, the way she gracefully confronted the difficulties and ironies of Unitarian Universalist life without losing her nerve or her vision for what we could be. She will remain an inspiration to me.
I will also remember her as a skilled and insightful colleague. Marjorie was a columnist for UU World from 2000 to 2002, during my first two years on the staff. She wrote nine "What in the World?" discussion guides for the magazine, which transformed each issue's articles into conversation fodder and invitations for personal reflection. In that role she helped shape an important part of the redesigned magazine -- just one more way she contributed to Unitarian Universalism. It was a pleasure to work with her.
My love and prayers are with you.
Chris Walton
Executive Editor, UU World
Clyde -
Marjorie was a force of nature throughout her life. Her words and work will live on as inspiration to many more. And you are so much a part of making both possible.
Peace and love,
Susan
I did not know her personally, but already she is reaching me through those who did as she joins the "Choir Invisible".
Blessings, comfort, peace and healing to Clyde and all others who are saddened by her loss. May she dwell with the saints and may light perpetual shine upon her.
Dear Clyde,
David and I were so sad to hear about Marjorie. You have been in our thoughts and prayers. Marjorie was a gift to our world-
a spirit filled soul! I have many memories of her I'll treasure always... she was the guest preacher at Betsy's baptisimal service at Second Parish (many years before we met you!), Betsy sitting on her lap while Marjorie told her a story, gaining comfort after 9/11 by reading her worship/prayer offerings. May you continue to be blessed by her memory!
My condolences to you, Clyde. I remember the two of you during your time in Austin, Tx as interim ministers at First UU. In fact, I believe that's when y'all got married.
I wish you peace.
Mark
Dear, dear Clyde,
Marjorie was such a gentle, beautiful soul. We all grieve for her. She will be missed across the country. I can only imagine how much you will miss her. My fondest thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
Jonalu
Dear Clyde --
This follows my private email to you ... again, I'm sorry for your loss and our collective loss.
For me, Marjorie was simply radiant ... she had a wonderful luminous glow to her face and her smile, as well as great dignity and generosity.
I'm very grateful to have known her.
Comfort and joy,
Carlton
Dear Clyde,
I am so sorry at your loss and the loss so many of us feel with Marjorie's death. The short time we shared together in Florida helped me appreciate more deeply her strength and courage in the face of some difficult times. I am thankful for her wisdom and her example. My prayers are with you and her family.
Fondly, Kate
Thank you so much, Clyde, for sharing the most recent moments of Marjorie's life with all of us. I will miss her presence, her prophetic witness, her laughter and determination. Know that many grieve with you, and are grateful for the opportunity of knowing such a phenomenal woman. I am holding you and Marjorie and your family in my prayers. I will continue to draw inspiration and strength from Marjorie in the years to come.
All blessings and love,
Sofia
Dear Clyde,
I learned today that on Sunday prayers were raised for Marjorie and candles lit for her in Flint. Her prophetic and poetic presence among us was remembered, celebrated. Our prayers for you--and now our grief--are deep, earnest. How does one share so great a loss?
A friend once said: cry. Cry now, and cry again, and keep crying until there are no more tears. Beloved friend, know that I am crying with you.
David
Dear Clyde,
Patrick and I offer our deepest condolences and best regards to you and to yours and Marjorie's families.
Like many others, I welcomed her words and her presence in my ministry and in my life. Most of all, I will cherish the times when she and I were able to chat at conferences and just enjoy a little collegial company.
May the knowledge of her life be a source of strength to you and to all of us.
Dear Mr. Grubbs,
You and your family are in my prayers. I never met Marjorie, but her integrity and her words have touched my heart and soul. This Sunday, I will kindle flames in her honor.
Love and light to you,
Allison Farnum,Intern Minister
First Unitarian Baltimore
I'm sad to hear about Marjorie's passing.
I also sad for the loss that our wider religious community is experiencing now.
You're in my prayers.
Dear Tonya,
At last Sunday's service at the Spirit of Life UU church here in Florida, your mom was with me in spirit. Silently, I sang in my heart, "Go now in Peace." Little did I know that my friend Marjorie had passed to the Spirit World earlier that morning.
My dear, I am so happy that I had the priviledge of getting to know your mom. During our neighborhood walks in the spring and early fall, we had spirited conversations about motherhood, faith and believes, and shared our innermost hopes and dreams for our children.
By knowing her, a whole new world opened up to me and I am the richer for it. Thanks to her, I also got to know so many other caring, loving people; you being one of them. You are your mother's daughter with the same warm smile, sparkling eyes, steadfastness, intelligence and compassion. Your mom was so proud of you, Tonya. I miss her so.
You, Clyde, and the whole family are in my daily thoughts and prayers. Peace to you all. Let the Spirit of Life surround you, anywhere you may go.
With all my Love,
Your Karin
Peace to Marjorie's family and friends. I am so sad that she no longer walks with us.
I got to know & work with her during her ministerial internship at All Souls in Washington. She embodied the strong and loving spirit of our congregation and her talents brought us many gifts. And, as we all know, she was one smart sistah! She will continue to inspire me and remind me of why I became and remain a UU.
All who love and care for Marjorie are in my thoughts and prayers.
Peace & Blessings,
Michaelle Wilson
Dear Clyde and family,
Again, we at the UUWF are so saddened by this incredible loss. We will continue to hold Marjorie in our loving thoughts and prayers. She was so important to the UUWF, especially to our new Grants Program. She inspired us to do the work needed to be done and we promise to always continue in her name.
With affection,
Linda Lu Burciaga