Marian L. Leftwich of Carbondale
Marian L. Leftwich, 90, of Carbondale passed from Earth into Heaven on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Marian was born April 10, 1934, in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, to Ruben W. J. Kammler and Edith B. (Montgomery) Kammler.
She gave her heart early to Jesus. As a little girl she listened to a cherished teacher tell stories about children and families in Nigeria, West Africa, who lived in fear and had never heard of our God of love. She felt God speaking to her young heart and determined to dedicate her life work to sharing the gospel. Little did she imagine she would one day stand in the very country she had heard about as a child, and would share the hope she has in her risen Savior.
She met Staff Sergeant Rev. Eugene L. Leftwich of the US Air Force at a church event. They fell in love and married on June 20, 1954, at Winstanley Baptist Church in Fairview Heights This began 56 years together growing a family and serving through church and missions ministries in Kentucky, Illinois and Nigeria, West Africa.
They served in churches and answered the call to share the gospel as international missionaries in 1964. They served in many capacities while in Nigeria including church planting in Aba; then during a time of civil war became house parents to 30-plus girls and fed 60-90 people including students, teachers and staff daily at Newton Memorial School in Oshogbo. Later, she worked in women’s ministries in Ibadan.
While on furlough in Illinois, Marian completed her bachelor’s of science in education and returned to Nigeria to do what she loved most: teaching first grade students from all over the world. Oh, how she loved those years and all the children.
Although her illness brought them back to the USA, she continued to pursue her passion to serve her Lord Jesus as a pastor’s wife and choir director, and was influential as a leader in women’s and children’s ministries at Villa Hills Baptist Church. In retirement years, she was an amazing caregiver for her husband and mother, mentor for family members and a fiercely devoted prayer warrior especially for her family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, missionaries and the nations. She faithfully recorded her many stories and memoirs for her family to cherish in generations to come.
Survivors include her children, Raymond L. (Joy) Leftwich of Crowley, Texas, Melody L. (Randy) Murry of Benton and Darryl L. (Jamie) Leftwich of Carbondale; grandchildren Natasha L. (Dr. Bryce) Nattier of Togo, West Africa, Tiffany L. (Brian) Harris of Midlothian, Va., Mikah L. (Jordan) Halm of Algonquin, Kara R. Leftwich of Carbondale, Samuel J. Leftwich of Carbondale, Kendra J. Leftwich of Carbondale and Kristen A. (Joseph) Gross of Herrin; great-grandchildren Elliahna, Andrew, Sofia, Ahnilyse, Mélyna, Josiah, Sloan, Harvey, Indie and Boston; siblings Dr. David W. Kammler (Ruth Ann) of Carbondale, Kathy M (Dr. David) Clutts of Hallsville, Texas, and John R. (Shirley) Leftwich of The Woodlands, Texas; and many beloved nephews and nieces.
Marian was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother-in-law Jack E. Leftwich.
She is lovingly remembered for myriad spiritual gifts and talents that she used to serve Jesus her Lord. Among these roles she found great joy: daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, homemaker, teacher, seamstress, baker, singer, choir director, pianist, dramatist, hair stylist, florist, hostess, and an ultimate organizer of things, events, schedules and a squeaky-clean home.
In her later years, Marian was a member of Lakeland Baptist Church in Carbondale.
The family sincerely thanks Residential Hospice for their hours of tender loving care, precious help and comfort in difficult times.
Visitation will be at Lakeland Baptist Church from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, and funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. at the church with Dr. David Kammler officiating. For those that cannot attend, the service will be live streamed on the church’s website, lakelandcarbondale.com. Internment will be at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights on Saturday, May 11 at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Lottie Moon International Mission Board Fund; envelopes will be available at the church.
Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, visit meredithfh.com.