From the Crack House to Owning Many Houses! (Sep 30)
Gerald D. Marshman, who in his past life was known as Douglas, had a very different life than what one sees today. To see Gerald now, one would never have known that he was addicted to crack cocaine for at least two years. Gerald, who is 51 years young, discovered from a very young age that he was good with his hands when he started working with his father, who was a master carpenter. It was then that Gerald developed a passion for this trade. However, as he begin to get a little older, (those trying teen years), Gerald succumbed to peer pressure, which lead him down a path, he had no knowledge of where it would land him.
Gerald got married at the age of 15, which surprising lasted for eleven years, which produced 2 children. During this marriage he wanted to develop his nature gift of carpentry and home repair, so he enrolled in plumbing school at OIC. After completion of this course, he began to find work in this field to support his family.
In spite of how well things were going for him, there was a demon which got a hold of him, the demon of adultery. In 1985, Gerald became involved with another woman, and had 3 children with her; in addition, he found another love called CRACK! For at least 2 years, in addition to being an alcoholic, Gerald was also a crack head, and at this point in his life things really began to spiral downward for him. This lifestyle landed him in his new home at the county jail for 3 years, which may have been his saving grace.
Gerald knew that he was better than that, and wanted something much better for his life. While he was incarcerated, he obtained his G.E.D. After his release from jail, he did not want to return to his same old existence, he wanted something more, something fresh, a brand new start. He decided to check his self into a rehabilitation facility to get the necessary help; additionally, he also realized that he could not become free from this addiction in his own strength, and that is when he found Jesus Christ.
Today, Gerald is a brand new creature in Christ. He has been clean and sober for the past 16 years and still going strong. He is married to a wonderful, vivacious and amusing woman, Viola Lockley Marshman, he is an entrepreneur, CEO and Master Carpenter of his own company Versatile Home Repair, 412-537-5188, that has five employees to-date, and he owns seven real estate properties throughout the city and surrounding areas.
Gerald maintains his spiritual walk by attending weekly services at Shiloh Community Missionary Baptist Church, where he has been a member for the past 16 years.
My encounter with Gerald was not by accident, but was already predestined. I have seen his work and know that he is a man of integrity.
Gerald is living proof that if a person really wants to change their way of life, it can be done by and through the grace and mercy of God.
To you Gerald, I say congratulations and may the blessings of the Lord that maketh rich and adds no sorrow with it, continue to reign upon your life, your family and all that you put your hands to.
Filed under: Local Souls
