Celebrating the Life of Linda Perry

We commemorate and celebrate the wonderful life of one of WFWP’s early pioneers here in the United States, Mrs. Linda Marchant Perry, who went home to the eternal world yesterday, Feb. 9, 2016, at 8:05 a.m. at the age of 76.

Linda was surrounded by her three daughters: Limi Bauer, Maio Baiocco, and Camia Gavin, who were singing “The Rose” as she passed peacefully at home.

We are deeply grateful for and proud of all her accomplishments, and in particular for the wonderful foundation she helped to lay for the Women’s Federation for World Peace here in America!

See a brief bio below.

Our love and prayers also go to her lovely and accomplished daughters and close family at this time of grievance and loss.

Linda, we love you and will miss you!! We will continue the work for peace with a mother’s heart. Thank you, Linda! Go in peace!

Angelika Selle

President, WFWP USA

Brief Bio of Linda Perry

Linda Lee Marchant Perry was born on August 25, 1942 in Alexandria, Virginia. She was the oldest child of Joe Marchant and Marie Campbell and elder sister to Larry Marchant. She was a talented child, known for her love of reading and her acting on the stage. In 1970 she graduated from American University with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Arts.

Growing up in the international community of Washington DC, she sought ideas and attitudes that brought people together across barriers. She also was seeking to understand God and suffering in a time of political and cultural turmoil. In 1968 she first heard the teachings of the Divine Principle, and felt that this was a teaching with global implications. She joined with other missionaries to pioneer the movement across the United States.

Linda helped to found new churches in Baltimore, Maryland, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Due to her media savvy, she also served on Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s public speaking tours as the main public relations officer, combining her skills in the arts and media with her passion for God. Sharing the message of the Divine Principle with its gospel of unity and belief in a personal God was a faith that she could believe in.

She was always ready to work on a new project, go to a new state, or even a new country. Rev. Moon once said of her, “Every time I do something new, Linda Marchant wants to do it with me.” She was humble and fearless, but most of all enthusiastic about living her life with God.

In 1975, Linda received the Marriage Blessing as part of the 1800 couples’ blessing group. Following her Blessing, she began overseas missions to Bogota, Colombia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the end of her overseas missions, she returned to Washington D.C. to begin her life as a mother. She eventually had three daughters: Limi Marie (Bauer), Maio Lily (Baiocco), and Camia Rose (Gavin). They each received the Marriage Blessing and appreciated her wisdom in their upbringing, always loving God and others in a sincere and consistent way. She was also an adoring grandmother and her grandchildren adored her right back. Whether it was reading Bible stories, singing songs, knitting gifts, or picking out new baby clothes, grand-motherhood was a wish and a joy that she cherished with each child as her family grew.

She continued mission work, leading a witnessing team to spread the word from city to city. Her nurturing heart gave her the capacity to also serve as an Itinerary Worker, helping brothers and sisters to break through with their missions and with their own relationships. Many know her from this time, and attribute life-changing decisions and healing to the guidance she gave them.

She also used her professional skills for God by working in various church organizations. She was the Senior Accountant at World & I Magazine, Senior Accountant for New York City Symphony, and Editor- in-Chief of Today’s World magazine, Secretary General of Women’s Federation for World Peace. Her determination and eye for detail was critical in achieving WFWP’s NGO status, one of the highest granted to NGOs at the United Nations. This is one they still hold today, making it possible for WFWP to continue to reach women globally. Even after retiring from her role there, she was an active member of the organization, praying together with the members every night and doing service projects with them.

She spent her last years on the Florida coast in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Maio and Alexander Baiocco. She was happy until the end and her love was felt and shared throughout her journey.

Mission or not, title or not, she never stopped loving God, people, church, and family, which in her mind, were one and the same.