Catherine Marshall

Catherine Marshall, born Catherine Wood, (September 27, 1914 — March 18, 1983) was an author of nonfiction, inspirational, and fiction works. She was the wife of well-known minister Peter Marshall.

Biography

Marshall was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, the daughter of the Reverend John Ambrose Wood and Leonora Whitaker Wood. From the age of nine until her graduation from high school, Marshall was raised in Keyser, West Virginia, where her father served as pastor of a local Presbyterian Church.

In 1936 she graduated from Agnes Scott College and married Peter Marshall. The couple moved to Washington, DC, where her husband served as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and Chaplain of the United States Senate.

In March, 1943, Catherine Marshall contracted tuberculosis, which was still a serious and life-threatening disease despite the recent discovery of penicillin. She spent two years recovering from the illness. Her husband died in 1949 of a heart attack, leaving her to care for their 9-year-old son, Peter John Marshall (who would later become a minister and an author).

Soon afterwards, she began writing. She authored over 20 books which have sold over 16 million copies. Her books include edited collections of sermons and prayers of her late husband, as well as her own nonfiction inspirational writings. Her most successful books were "A Man Called Peter" [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0800793110] (1951), the inspirational biography of her late husband, Peter Marshall; and her novel, "Christy" (1967), which was inspired by the story of her own mother's journey to the mountains to teach the impoverished children of Appalachia. "A Man Called Peter" was made into a film in 1955, and "Christy" was made into a CBS television series, starring Kellie Martin, in 1994.

In 1959, Catherine married Leonard LeSourd, who worked as the editor of Guideposts Magazine for 28 years. Together they founded a book imprint, "Chosen Books".

Catherine died on March 18, 1983 and was buried next to Peter Marshall.

Works published

Nonfiction

*"A Man Called Peter"
*"To Live Again"
*"Beyond Our Selves"
*"Something More"
*"Adventures in Prayer"
*"The Helper"
*"My Personal Prayer Diary"
*"Meeting God at Every Turn"
*"Catherine Marshall's Story Bible"
*"A Closer Walk"
*"Light in My Darkest Night"
*"The Inspirational Writings of Catherine Marshall"
*"The Best of Catherine Marshall"
*"Quiet Times with Catherine Marshall"
*"The Collected Works of Catherine Marshall"

Fiction

*"Christy"
*"Julie"

Other works

*"God Loves You"
*"Thornbird Country"
*"Catherine Marshall's Storybook for Children"
*"Footprints in the Snow"

Edited works

*"Mr. Jones, Meet the Master" (Peter Marshall's sermons)
*"Let's Keep Christmas"
*"Prayers of Peter Marshall"
*"Heart of Peter Marshall's Faith"
*"Friends with God"
*"First Easter"
*"John Doe, Disciple"
*"The Best of Peter Marshall"