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Margaret Josephine Jackson Minnicks [MAR-guh-rut JOH-suh-feen JAK-suhn MIN-iks], born July 23, 1945, is an African American teacher, ordained minister, journalist, online writer, mother of two adult children, and grandmother of three adult children.

Margaret is proud of her name, which means "pearl of great price." Every time she hears it, it reminds her of how her life used to be through trials, tribulations, and struggles. She said:

"My life was once like a pearl in an oyster among dirt and grime. After it was polished and given care, it became noticeably precious and valuable."

Background

Margaret was born in Sussex County, Virginia where she and her siblings picked cotton and were paid $0.03 a pound. They also worked in the peanut fields and helped harvest them. Margaret hated missing days from school to work in the fields, but it was the only way to help out with family finances in a household with a single mother and ten children.

Margaret worked hard growing up from the age of six. While in high school, she worked in Richmond, Virginia during the summers. One of her most memorable jobs was being a nanny to triplets named Renny, Denny, and Penny.

Gap Year

After high school, Margaret's desire was to attend Virginia State University (formerly Virginia State College), but she didn't have money for tuition. She took a gap year out of necessity and moved to Brooklyn, New York to find a better job to save money for college.

She got a job at Macy's Department Store on 34th Street and worked there as a comptometer operator for an entire year while saving money for college. Margaret returned every summer and during Christmas vacations to the same job. She jokingly tells people that they held her job for her then, and today she could probably still work there.

Education

1951-1958: Walked to Rivers Elementary School, a two-room school for grades 1-7

1959-1963: Attended Central High School as an honor student, senior prom queen

1963-1964: Gap year; worked at Macy's Department Store in New York

1964-1968: Majored in English and Literature at Virginia State University, received B.A. degree

1992 -1994: Enrolled at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia

1994-1998: Enrolled at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia

1998: Graduated with dual degrees: a master's degree in Christian Education and an MDiv. degree in theology during the same ceremony

1998: Became Owner and Director of The Way of Life Spiritual Development Center in Partnership with Oral Roberts University. Only teacher at the school for 22 years. Trained students to become ministers and pastors

Jobs

English Teacher: Metuchen, New Jersey

Postal Clerk: United States Postal Service, Piscataway, New Jersey

Letter Carrier: United States Postal Service, Richmond, Virginia

Postal Clerk: United States Postal Service, Richmond, Virginia

English Teacher: Community colleges throughout the Richmond Metro area

Minister of Christian Education: Churches through the Richmond Metro area

Owner, Director, and Instructor: The Way of Life, Richmond, Virginia

Businesses

• Owner: M-Prints Typing Service
• Owner and Editor: Singles Unlimited Magazine (SUM)
• Owner and Director: The Way of Life Spiritual Development Center

Personal Life

1967: Became engaged on top of Watchung Mountain in New Jersey, which was about 400 to 500 feet high because the man told her, "I want to be as high as I can when I propose to you."

June 8, 1968 - Got married. Son born November 20, 1970. Daughter born December 26, 1972. Three grandchildren from daughter: grandson born September 13, 200o, another son born July 14, 2004, granddaughter born January 29, 2006.

July 8, 1980 - Got divorced after being married for 12 years.

August 8, 1981 - Moved to Richmond, Virginia from Piscataway, New Jersey

Books Published

• The Spiritual Significance of Eating
• "Where Are You?
• Many ebooks

Online Writing Sites

• Constant Contact
• HubPages
• NewsBreak
• Vocal.Media

Hobbies

Reading, writing, watching TV (Hallmark, Lifetime, Game Shows), favorite genre: Romance

Favorites

Butterflies: As seen in the top photo. Margaret has a butterfly bush outside her bedroom window. She said:

"Butterflies remind me of myself. I have gone through a metamorphosis, just as they have."

Scriptures: Galatians 6:9, Psalm 103:1

Title for God: All Wise and Eternal God

Sermon Preached: Don't Leave Jesus Behind, based on the only record of Jesus' childhood, found in Luke 2:41-52.

Quotes: "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain." ---Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Book: Beyond Ourselves by Catherine Marshall

Life's mission: To live and let live, and to do all the good that I can for as long as I can.

For more information

Margaret Minnicks has an extensive online presence. To find out more, search for her via Google, Copilot, and ChatGPT.