Margaret and Mark Calhoun relocated to the Gulf Coast from Troy, AL, in 2017. Mark owns his own construction business, and Margaret has been the Director of Ecumenical Ministries since 2023. The couple has two sweet children – Mason (11) and Stella (3). They also have four cats and a new puppy.
“My family is what gives me the most joy. I enjoy spending time with them and watching our kids grow,” Margaret shared. “Mason is a busy kid. He plays violin for the Baldwin Youth Orchestra, takes piano lessons, and has been on the chess team at his school. Stella is an energetic toddler who thinks she is the boss —she keeps us on our toes.”
The family truly enjoys being outdoors. You can usually find them playing outside in the afternoons and grilling on the weekends. During the summer, they are often at Margaret’s mom’s house, taking full advantage of the pool. If not there, the Calhouns are packing up for a family beach day.
One interesting thing they enjoy doing together, especially during Summer, is Geocaching.
“One of the coolest finds when geocaching was a day spent at Gulf State Park. It led us off the path through the woods. There is an old vat for cattle back there where we found the geocache,” said Margaret. “We discovered through this adventure that farmers would winter their cattle on the island. The vat was full of arsenic to kill ticks. It was fun learning that years ago, cattle were hanging out at the beach.”
Margaret works a very important job as the South Baldwin Director of Ecumenical Ministries. This is a non-denominational, social service agency that has been serving our area for over 55 years. There are many programs offered through the agency. Some of those include providing emergency services to residents in our area, helping repair homes for the elderly, and coordinating Meals on Wheels.
“I received a Master of Social Work in 2017. I knew I wanted to move to Baldwin County and had been searching for employment. My parents were at a party one evening, and my mom made a new friend, who was a volunteer at Ecumenical and knew of a new position that was coming open,” reminisced Margaret. “I came to Baldwin County for an interview and felt right at home at Ecumenical. I started working as the case manager in July of 2017. In September of 2023, I was promoted to the South Baldwin Director. I enjoy serving our community.”
Margaret says she is proud of herself for working a full-time job — one that requires being on call, being a wife and mom, and getting her master’s degree.
“It was not an easy task, but I did it,” she said. “This past month, I graduated from Leadership Baldwin. It was a great experience. I was able to meet other leaders in Baldwin County, learn about programs and businesses that I did not know were here, and see what our county has to offer.”
With a very busy schedule, enjoying meals at home together is important to this family of four. One of their favorites is Poppy Seed Casserole, which was a staple dish that Margaret’s mom made when she was little. She describes it as a simple recipe with simple ingredients.
“We stopped using poppy seeds on the top years ago! My son was a picky eater, and so we left them off. They are just there to make the dish look pretty; they have no flavor at all,” Margaret shared. “Also, my son likes crushed-up Goldfish or Cheez-It’s on top, instead of traditional crackers. It puts a fun twist on the casserole for kids.”
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Ingredients:
- 5-6 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
- 2 cans of cream of chicken soup
- 1- 8 oz carton of sour cream
- 1 tube of Ritz crackers, crushed (Goldfish or Cheeze-Its also work well)
- 1 stick of melted butter
- Poppy seeds
Directions:
- Combine cooked and shredded chicken with the cream of chicken soup and sour cream.
- Put in a greased casserole dish.
- Top with crushed crackers.
- Drizzle butter on top.
- Sprinkle poppy seeds on top.
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until slightly bubbly.
Author: Gabriele Jones
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 16 years. Together they have three incredible children - two boys, ages 15 and eight, and a sweet girl who joined the family last summer. She is a full time Pink Cadillac Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Foley.
