Roden, Mary

The Church at Lake Guntersville
Marshall Baptist Association

Favorite Bible Verse: “So many I cannot even count.”
Favorite Hymns: “Amazing Grace,” “Jesus Loves Me” and “Just As I Am”
Hobbies: Gardening and cooking
Family Status: Widowed after 29 years of marriage to J.P.; one son, Craig; and two grandsons

Mary Roden celebrated her 90th birthday Dec. 29. Retired after 37 years of teaching, she enjoys seeing former third-grade students and their families. She is an active member of the adult Sunday School class at The Church at Lake Guntersville.

Q: What was your childhood like?
A: Wild! But we knew what we had to do and we did it. I grew up country but it was good. We were all in church. I grew up “keepin’ the preacher,” because we lived right across the street from the church in Martling, Ala. We had an extra bedroom, so when the preacher came to town, he stayed with us. I had one sister and two brothers.

Q: How did you come to know the Lord?
A: I was saved in elementary school. We did not have a baptistry, but there was a cotton gin in the middle of town. So when we had a big enough group to be baptized, they would drain the pool that was used to wash the cotton and refill it with clean water so we could use it for baptisms. I was baptized there between the third and fourth grade. I remember always reading a chapter in the Bible before bed every night in front of the fireplace.

Q: How have you been involved in church through the years?
A: I have been involved in church as long as I can remember. I was involved in WMU (Woman’s Missionary Union), VBS (Vacation Bible School), Sunday School and now the senior program. One year, we had VBS on my farm.

Q: What have you gotten from that inolvement?
A: I have always loved the literature that helps me connect one Sunday to the next. It really helps me learn from the Bible. Mostly I am thankful that I always have Someone to talk to that will always listen.