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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Danzigmusicfan1 (talk | contribs) at 14:31, 29 December 2024 (←Created page with '{{Infobox person | name = Mary Damron | other_names = Mama Gump, The Shoebox Lady | birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|4|17}} | birth_place = Hanover, West Virginia, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|12|26|1954|4|17}} | death_place = West Virginia, U.S. | occupation = Missionary | years_active = 1994–2024 | children = 3 }} '''Mary Jean Damron''' (April 17, 1954...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mary Jean Damron (April 17, 1954 – December 26, 2024), also known as The Shoebox Lady or Mama Gump, was an American missionary known for her global work with Christian humanitarian aid organization Samaritan's Purse and the Operation Christmas Child program. Damron, as a global spokesperson and missionary for the program, has been to more than 100 countries delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.

Early life

Damron was born on April 17, 1954 to Arthur Sprouse and Emma Jean Carlson. She resided in Ikes Fork, West Virginia for most of her life and attended Ikes Fork Freewill Baptist Church during her childhood, where she said a pastor of the church told her that Jesus loved her – which sparked her desire to serve Jesus.

Humanitarian work

In 1993, Damron viewed a television advertisement promoting Operation Christmas Child, a program of Samaritan's Purse. The ad featured Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse, delivering a shoebox packed with gifts to a boy in a hospital bed in war-torn Bosnia, during the Bosnian War Damron was inspired by the advertisement, and began collecting shoeboxes in Wyoming and McDowell counties in West Virginia, often called "the poorest counties in West Virginia". By Thanksgiving Day in 1994, Mary had collected 1,256 shoeboxes, and transported them in a cargo truck with her son, Tad, to the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina. Franklin Graham was alerted of the unexpected delivery by telephone, and arrived at the headquarters – where he met Mary. Mary greeted Graham with “Brother Graham, I’m Mary. I got you some shoeboxes for God. Where do you want them ?”

Graham was shocked by the amount of shoeboxes which Damron had brought, and offered to take Mary to Bosnia to hand-deliver the shoeboxes. Graham expressed concern and warned Mary that she would be going into a warzone in Bosnia, which was at the peak of war – and that she would need a bulletproof vest, after which Mary said: “What for ? I got the Holy Spirit of God, young man. I’ve got holy angels all around me, the Spirit of God in me, and Jesus walking with me every step of the way. I’ll be alright!”

In 1995, Damron received a call from The White House. At first, Damron believed it was a prank call, until the caller finally convinced her that the call was authentic. Then-president Bill Clinton invited her to The White House to attend and speak at a press conference regarding humanitarian relief efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the press conference, Damron spoke about Operation Christmas Child and her civilian work in Bosnia, alongside President Clinton. When Damron met the president, she handed him an empty shoebox and asked him to fill it with gifts for a child. She then asked him, “Mr. President , do you care if I pray for you?”. She then proceeded to lead a prayer in the Oval Office. Mary delivered the shoeboxes packed by President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton to a 7-year-old girl named Zlada in Bosnia who had lost a leg in an artillery attack.

Damron earned the name "Mama Gump," which was coined by her son Tad after she was invited to The White House: “You saw Brother Graham on the TV, went out and got some shoeboxes, took them down there to Carolina, you got sent off to Bosnia , and now the President's done called you to Washington. You’re nothing but a Mama Gump", Tad said. The nickname has been used to refer to her in media, along with "The Shoebox Lady" or "Hillbilly Angel".

Since 1994, Mary has been to more than 100 countries delivering shoeboxes to children in need, and has become the national spokesperson for the Operation Christmas Child program.

On April 6, 2013, Mary attended an Operation Christmas Child event celebrating 100 million OCC shoeboxes, and sang a rendition of "God on the Mountain" on-stage with Ricky Skaggs, Tommy Coomes, Dennis Agajanian, and Franklin Graham.

Personal life

Damron battled cancer for many years.

Damron's husband, Pastor Ted Damron, passed away on December 27, 2021. Ted also volunteered for Operation Christmas Child during his life.

Death

Damron died on December 26, 2024 at the age of 70, after a long battle with cancer. Samaritan's Purse paid tribute to Damron with a news release on their website, and Franklin Graham paid tribute to Damron on social media – calling her a "a great warrior for children and the Gospel."

References

1. ^ Staff (September 28, 2023). "Damron to share Operation Christmas Child story". WV News. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
2. ^ Graham, Franklin (December 27, 2024). A great warrior for children and the Gospel ran through the gates of Heaven yesterday after a long bout with cancer—Mary Damron (Video). Retrieved December 29, 2024 – via Facebook.
3. Macvean, Tim (March 12, 2018). "Volunteer's service spans more than two decades". The Intermountain. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
4. "50 Years Into the War on Poverty, Hardship Hits Back (Published 2014)". The New York Times. April 21, 2014. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
5. ^ ""Mama Gump": Her Hugs Went a Long Way". Samaritan's Purse. December 26, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
6. Clinton, William. "Statement on the 1st Anniversary of the Summit of the Americas" (PDF). GovInfo. Administration of William J. Clinton, 1995 / Dec. 12. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
7. "Beckley Register Herald Archives, Dec 13, 1995, p. 1". NewspaperArchive. December 13, 1995.
8. "Franklin Graham Reflects on 25 Years of Sharing God's Love Through Shoebox Gifts Delivered to the Ends of the Earth". Samaritan's Purse. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
9. Nodell, Bobbi (July 25, 2002). "'Hillbilly angel' crusades for charity". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
10. Norris, Sherrie (April 22, 2013). "Samaritan's Purse: 100 million reasons to celebrate • Biblical Recorder". Biblical Recorder.
11. Taylor, Jack (September 18, 2022). "An act of kindness comes full circle in Wyoming County". WVNS. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
12. "Remembering the life of Pastor Ted Damron". The Register-Herald. Retrieved 2024-12-29.

Further reading

• Graham, Franklin (January 9, 2001). Living Beyond the Limits: A Life in Sync with God. ISBN 978-0785267058.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

External links

• Mary Damron - "The Shoebox Lady" at YouTube

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