Marguerite R. Morris, who was born poor, grew up in the community of Laurel, Maryland. She recalls how as a child she had no running water. She and her family drew water from a well on church property across the street. When her family moved into public housing she considered it a step up.
Morris’s challenges growing up set the course and motivation for her life’s paths. As a youth she was influenced and never forgot the community volunteers that came into the public housing complex that worked with her as a child and who probably to this day, do not know the positive impact they had on her.
In 1996 following a military retirement and relocation back to Maryland, she and her husband pastored the Shekinah Temple of Jesus Christ in Odenton, MD and worked extensively with the homeless and the disadvantaged. The Morris’ relocated to St. Mary’s County in 2001 and she became the pastor of New Beginnings Christian Worship Center.
Morris has previously served as Director of Education and sits on the Board of Trustees for several nonprofits. Gifted in non-profit administration, she has assisted with the administrative set up of several area non-profits. Locally she helped to establish the Food for A Friend Program which through the coordination of volunteers and community partners moved over $100,000.00 in donated food products through St Mary’s county. She spear headed the forming of Positive Reinforcement of Our Future (P.R.O.O.F.) a youth group offering positive alternatives (most Friday nights) to at-risk youth 7 -20 years of age. In addition, as a joint collaborated effort between Ministerio de Amor en Cristo, Lighthouse Church and the New Beginnings Christian Worship Center, Morris assisted in the establishment of The New Hope Mission.. In 2005, responding to a community outcry Morris founded Leah’s House, a shelter for Women and Children in St Mary’s County. In her work for Leah’s House she has been in numerous news articles including the Washington Post Southern Living Section. This article was in reference to her efforts to take a local hotspot know as Happyland Club and turn it into something positive to serve the community. Recently the organization was successful in purchasing this property to be used for support and sustainability of services to the shelter and shelter related activities.
Morris has received several awards and acknowledgments since stepping out to assist the needs of families in Southern Maryland. She has received local recognition for Outstanding Work with Foster Children, and caring for individuals with terminal illnesses through Hospice of St Mary’s County. Official citations were awarded from the Senate of Maryland for her work with Hospice and the homeless, and from the St. Mary’s County Commissioners for her Food For A Friend program. In addition, she was nominated as one of Maryland’s Most Beautiful People in St Mary’s County. Morris has been used as a voice of motivation to several published authors, whose first literary works were attributed to her encouragement. As a motivational speaker, several others accredit Morris for encouraging them to complete degrees in various fields of study. Recently Morris received the Church of Distinction Award from the Pastor’s and Church Leadership Summit, held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This award is presented annually to a ministry that has impacted its local community through its outreach programs. At this conference Morris facilitated a seminar on starting a Domestic Violence Program/Shelter and strived to raise awareness of the need to have a new response to the issues of domestic violence, even in the church. In 2007 Morris received the 2007 Human Relations Commission Award and Citations from Senator Barbara McCulsky in reference to her work with the disadvantaged. In 2008 her congregation presented her with a letter of support signed by the then President George W. Bush and in March 2008, Morris received a nomination for Women of the Year in St Mary’s County and in 2008 was appointed by the County Commissioners to the first Human Services Council in St Mary’s County.
In addition, Morris holds a degree in Business Administration along with multiple certifications in Christian Studies and an honorary doctorate. She has attended various conferences such as the National Training Conference, “Addressing Homelessness for People with Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorders” and “Church Management & Tax Conference” promoting excellence and integrity in church finances. Morris so elegantly quotes: “A person’s past does not necessarily determine their future”.
Morris also reflects personally on the things that are mostly important to her, God, and her beautiful family. Morris says “A generous smile, a compassionate hug, and words of encouragement go a long way when you’re empowered by the word of God, and aids in making the tasks at hand bearable”.
