(2) To provide scholarships to needy couples who could not otherwise attend Dr. Chapman's marriage seminars held on Saturdays, in thirty locations across the country.

Contributions of any amount are tax deductible and may be mailed to

Marriage & Family Life Consultants, Inc.
P.O. Box 24053
Winston-Salem, NC 27114

Please indicate that the contribution is for the Carlene Marion Memorial Fund.

OUR LOVE STORY

By Billy Marion

Let me tell you about Carlene, the love of my life for 50 years. In the summer of 1956 in the small town of Mt. Airy, NC, I had my first opportunity to see Carlene. She was dating a friend of mine. He had a new oldsmobile 88 and I had an old '52 Chevy that I had purchased from my grandfather. I was so impressed with her beauty - I wanted to meet this girl! In September of '56, with help from some friends, we drove to Carlene's house and I had the pleasure of meeting her for the first time - Wow! We made a date and my life was changed forever. We were married for 49 years, 9 months. You see we married at a very young age. She was 16 and I was 19. A young girl with striking beauty and a wonderful personality and a heart full of love. Two weeks after we married, I lost my job so we lived with her mother and father on their farm. We had a 2-month honeymoon and it was a wonderful time. After those two months, I found employment again and now I realize that the honeymoon lasted another 49 years.

When Carlene was 19 she gave birth to our son, Jeffrey, and 4 years
later to our daughter, Lisa. Even though Carlene was very young, she
loved her role as wife and mother. She devoted her life to the kids and
to me.

When she was in her late 20's she gave her heart to Jesus. I had a job
that required a lot of traveling so Carlene was the one who really made
our family grow and become what it was - What a girl.

During the years 1963 - 1966, Carlene was with two small children and I
was gone most of the time pursuing a career as an airline pilot. These
were difficult years for Carlene, but she was faithful and true to me
and the children. I thank God for her belief in me. In 1966, I became
an airline pilot. As Carlene became a follower of Jesus Christ I was
enjoying the life of a pilot and did not become a follower of Christ for
the next 20 years. Carlene's love for her Lord, for the kids and me
never wavered. God gave us the opportunity to travel, see a lot of the
world and meet friends from all over the USA..

Carlene was not only beautiful but the respect she had for me and
everyone else was just unbelievable. She would make notes in her bible
about having the love of Christ in her heart and love for everyone else.
What made her so special was her true love for me. I don't believe any
woman ever loved her husband more than Carlene love me. She had so much respect for me and I love her with all my heart and soul. She would continuously tell me, "Bill, I adore you." We would never leave the house without a hug, a kiss and a 'good-bye'.

Carlene's striking beauty and good genes allowed her to have a physical
body that functioned like a young woman all her life and she was so
willing to give her love to me. When we were younger and I would do
things I should not do, Carlene would never allow herself not to forgive
me and love me. We never said a harsh word to each other, even when we might not agree about something.

We enjoyed playing tennis, hiking, doing any and everything together.
We just loved and enjoyed one another's company. We were always best
friends

What a girl - that Carlene! God gave us a life together, in spite of my
years of not being a follower of Jesus, that was nothing short of a love
story that most people can only imagine. Our love will last forever but
Carlene's life was cut short by cancer. Eighteen months of surgery,
pain, stints, and chemo treatments - nothing stopped the cancer cells
from growing. Carlene's faith in Jesus gave her peace and the strength
to fight her disease.

Carlene embodied I Corinthians chapter 13 - The Love chapter - a note
made in her bible tells me all about her life in Christ: "We must learn to live it."; and she did!

God's love for and through Carlene has left it's mark on everyone she touched, as it always does. On December 10, 2006, Carlene was allowed into the presence of our Lord, after suffering so much pain, she has gone to her eternal home. As my life continues, I pray that I will follow Christ as she did and let His love flow through me.

Billy Marion