The Alabama Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America is honoring 101-year-old Mother Marie McDade, the church’s oldest living member, at the Mother Marie McDade Brunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The brunch held in the community room of Athens-Limestone Public Library, 603 S. Jefferson St., recognizes McDade’s 75 years with the church and gives the Alabama Fork CPA Inc. Board of Directors an opportunity to offer community outreach to children going into foster care.

“We decided to name this brunch after Mother Marie as a way to honor her,” said board of directors secretary Venessa Edmonds.

Brunch

The free event is a community outreach based off the Bible verse James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Edmonds said the brunch’s goal is to encourage, comfort and empower orphans and widows.

“The church has always done outreach but we wanted to be more focused on a specific community need,” she said. “This is something near and dear to our hearts so this is what the board decided to come up with.”

Attorney Liz Huntley of Huntsville, author of “More than a Bird,” is the featured speaker. Huntley grew up in a drug-fueled environment but overcame her background when she attended Auburn University on a full scholarship for her undergrad career and then went on earn a law degree from the University of Alabama. She now practices at a law firm in Birmingham.

Board members will collect backpacks full of personal hygiene items and a blanket to give to children who are removed from abusive homes during the night and placed into foster care.

McDade is to receive a Certificate of Honor from Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks and recognition by local, state and national members of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America but, due to her health, will be unable to attend.

McDade’s daughter Mary Malone will accept the honor and recognition on behalf of her mother.

Edmonds said anyone wanting to attend can visit www.eventbrite.com and type in Mother Marie McDade Women’s Brunch or call her, 256-340-4824.

About Marie McDade

McDade, an Athens native, was born Sept. 1, 1915, and joined Alabama Fork CPCA in 1940. In her years at the church she served in ministries such as the Mother Board and Women’s Missionary Society, and was the Sick Committee treasurer.

The church referred to McDade as “Mother” based on the book of Timothy, where women who live exemplary lives are considered mothers of the church, Edmonds said.

“She’s a solid Christian person,” she said.

McDade lives with her son William in Atlanta and he told her Alabama Fork was honoring her membership.

“She was very surprised and was all smiles,” he said. “The whole family attended church there when we were growing up.”

William said when he found out about the brunch, he was almost speechless.

“I thought about how great it was,” he said. “We were elated.”