I lack words to convey the magnitude of the pain I am feeling when I heard about Mama Marina’s passing away. She just left a big void….as if I knew her since I was born; but the legacy of faith, commitment and love for the Lord she gave me is far greater than the void[…]

I first met Marina and her family through Abbey Street Methodist Church in Dublin, Eire. We also attended the same Wesley Methodist College. Marina visited our home many times and always came up the stairs to say goodnight to me, tuck me in and talk a while. Her words to me stuck with me “Joan, you’re a[…]

Dear Stephen and James You are forever in my thoughts. With much love Kitty Words fail me! I am distraught at the loss of Marina- forever in my heart! Kitty Hart-Moxon

Posted by Chris Walker – A Remarkable Lady, This is a very brief thank you to Mrs Smith for giving me a fantastic purpose filled life, rich in meaning, a rare exquisite gift beyond value. Thank you, Mr Smith, Stephen and James, thank you for sharing you wife and mother, with us all. My mother[…]

Yom Ha Shoah (around 2012) In the run up to the event, Mrs Smith had written and issued the invitations (despite being ‘retired’ for roughly 7 years already) and acted as the coordinator with the Holocaust Centre for the Survivors and their families. Every invitation email/letter she had sent, to over 100 people and their[…]

Writing a concise tribute, having had the privilege to know Mrs Smith all my life, was always going to be a tall order. I’ve written, deleted, and edited many times; however, had it not been for Mrs Smith, I wouldn’t be writing this tribute. When I entered Woodlands school (Mrs Smiths school), my English was[…]

I am writing as a member of the Yom Ha Shoah Manchester Committee who were honoured to have Marina as one of our patrons. Her conviction and commitment always inspired us and she will always be a shining light to us. On a personal note, Marina was a good friend to my parents, my father[…]

How do you thank someone who has given you so much? Who has gently, firmly, moulded you into the person you are? Who has shown you right from wrong and given you the values you try (and all too frequently) fall too short of? Words don’t seem enough. It has been an honour to know you Mrs Smith. You[…]

So sad that Marina has passed away. She was the inspiration and heart of Beth Shalom, a place which allowed me to release my demons. She was compassionate, caring, welcoming, a good listener –  she was my friend. It will take me a long time to read through the plethora of lengthy, beautiful tributes above, but they were[…]

Dearest Mrs Smith I can’t quite believe we will never see you again on this earth. But what an amazing legacy. The amount of lives all over the world you have touched over all of these year. The heartbreak you have helped heal and mend with your love, compassion reaching out with Grace. Thank you[…]

Last time I was with Marina, it was at the CCJ conference, where I was one of the speakers, and had arranged to pop in to spend some time with Marina in the early afternoon. It was my folly to have had lunch at the centre before I went over to Marina’s for 2.00 pm,[…]

What can I say? I am broken-hearted that the person I love most is no longer here. For more than 40 years, she has been a mother to me, teacher, pastor, counsellor, friend; but Mrs Smith has served her Lord God all her life, His timing is always perfect, so it would me wrong of[…]

Dear Smith Family, so sad to hear the passing of Mrs Smith, you are in my thoughts and prayers. As all the tributes share – once meet , never forgotten and I have many memories of walking over to Bethany for advice, sharing news and rebuke! A remarkable lady and a fitting site to give[…]

Marina was a tour de force, indefatigable in her desire to support Holocaust survivors and their families as well as the survivors of the genocide in Rwanda and many, many more. I came to know her through the annual visits to Beth Shalom by students of the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations (later[…]

Dearest Smith Family When I first found my faith, I looked everywhere for a place of worship whose principles and acts reflected those I recognised to be Holy, Righteous. One day, a friend said, “I have found an amazing woman – you have to meet her!” When I met this wonderful Mother, I knew I[…]