Annie Marion Calhoun

Annie Marion Calhoun was born on September 28, 1939, in Jackson, Georgia, to late Relious and Cary Bell Keith. She was the fourth of eight children, and joined Fairfield AME Church in Jackson as a young girl. In 1957, Marion graduated from Henderson High School and served on the Homecoming Court for her class. She later moved to Atlanta, graduated from Catalina Beauty College, and became a beautician.

In 1962, she met Altheria Calhoun and they both moved to California, where they were married.  The Calhoun’s had three children: Teshia, Vicki and Keith, and they settled in Fullerton, California. While she cared for the family, Marion also took jobs as a domestic worker, caterer, and eventually, as a salesperson at the Ice Cream Shop. 

Marion and several of her friends decided to start a church. Penny Owens, one of the church's original charter members, met a man named K.D. Friend, who introduced her to Rev. James Carrington in 1964. The charter members used each other's houses to hold church services, until they finally had enough money to rent a home on Paterson Way, six blocks from Lemon Street, where the church was relocated.  Rev. Carrington began officiating.  After outgrowing the Paterson Way house, they moved the congregation to an industrial park on Ash Street. Marion was an original member of the Friend Airs choir, which was later changed to the Inspirational Voices Choir (IVC). She remained an active member for 55 years. However, the charter Members and Rev. Carrington wanted their own Church, so they bought the property on Lemon Street. As the congregation grew, they moved up to Valencia Mesa and then, relocated again to Hope University, until a permanent structure was constructed in Yorba Linda.  Marion remained a faithful Charter Member and parishioner throughout her lifetime. 

Marion was preceded in death by her daughter, Teshia T. Calhoun, and son, Keith Calhoun.   Marion is survived by her husband , Altheria Calhoun,  and her daughter  Dr.Vicki Calhoun; aunts Beatrice Dunston, Audrey Keith, Sandra McCrary, Dorothy Winder, Sinola Calhoun; Uncles Fred Keith, William Keith, Clifford Laster Dr. Fred Calhoun (Janice), and a host of  other relatives.