Marion Surles

Finalist in the 2023 Southern Christian Writers Conference! Mississippi girl Marion Surles was interested in learning Spanish from a young age. Due to a special offering of Spanish at her elementary school, she continued studying and received a BA and MA in Spanish and Social Work from Mississippi State University. Now a retired teacher in Texas, Marion teaches Spanish and English as a Second Language to all levels of students as a volunteer missionary in Texas and in Mexico. Most recently, she has formed a mission in Juarez, Mexico called Love and Literacy which encourages reading and staying in school.Every two months, Marion travels to Juarez to bring books and literacy activities to a poor neighborhood, partnering with a local family to serve as the library. Her books are a fictional account of the lives of her students, and sales of these books support the mission. Her Facebook Page, Love and Literacy, gives updates of her work in Juarez. Marion lives in Dublin, Texas with her husband, horses, and dogs. She enjoys trail riding, kayaking, and camping plus visiting with her daughters and granddaughter nearby. Marion teaches ESL and helps with immigration paperwork when not traveling to Juarez. She is also a living kidney donor. "Share your spare!"