May 20, 1936 – October 1, 2026
Rev. Marvin H. McCallum (Retired Elder), a United Methodist minister, church leader, fruit grower, and devoted family man whose life of service spanned more than six decades, died October 1, 2026, at the age of 90.
Marvin was born May 20, 1936, on his family’s farm in Jeddo, Michigan, to Marvin and Lucille McCallum. His roots in farming began there and remained an important part of his life throughout his 90 years.
Marvin devoted much of his life to serving others. A pastor, District Superintendent, mentor, and advocate for rural churches, he spent more than four decades in formal ministry and continued to serve others long after his official retirement. Along the way, he pursued another great passion — growing fruit — first through McCallum’s Orchard and later Marvin Gardens.
Marvin graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., receiving his Bachelor of Sacred Theology on June 5, 1961. That same year, at age 25, he began his ministry in the Detroit Annual Conference of The Methodist Church.
His first appointment was at First United Methodist Church in Pigeon, Michigan, where he served from 1961 to 1966. He then served Oxford United Methodist Church from 1966 to 1972.
In 1972, Marvin and his family moved to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where he was based in Manistique and served as a Program Consultant through 1975. Rural ministry became an important part of his life’s work. He worked with rural churches and their pastors, helping congregations strengthen their ministries, reach their communities and grow.
Marvin returned to southern Michigan in 1975, serving churches in Chelsea from 1975 to 1983, Monroe from 1983 to 1991, and First United Methodist Church in Royal Oak from 1991 to 1995.
In 1995, Marvin was appointed District Superintendent of the former Port Huron District of the Detroit Annual Conference, a position he held for seven years. As District Superintendent, he worked with pastors and congregations throughout the district, providing leadership, guidance and support and helping churches build stronger ministries in their communities.
His work extended well beyond the individual churches he served. Marvin was deeply committed to outreach, mission and church growth and to supporting pastors in their own ministries.
He officially retired from the United Methodist Church in 2002 after 43 years of faithful service.
Retirement, however, did little to slow him down. Marvin remained active in the church and continued to serve others well beyond his formal retirement.
At his retirement in 2002, Marvin reflected on the words from Hebrews 12 calling people to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” He made clear that retirement did not mean retiring from the responsibility to serve others.
His philosophy of ministry was also reflected in words attributed to John Wesley that Marvin included in his retirement address:
“Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can.”
He concluded those retirement reflections with words that captured the way he approached both his ministry and his life:
“Let us do our part as long as God gives us breath.”
Alongside his ministry, Marvin had another lifelong passion: growing fruit.
He owned and operated McCallum’s Orchard, where farming became both a vocation and a source of great joy. Marvin loved growing fruit and loved the experience the orchard provided for the families who visited it.
He often spoke about the contrast between his two callings. Ministry could be difficult work, bringing him into people’s lives during times of conflict, grief and hardship. The orchard was different. People came because they wanted to be there, to buy and pick fruit, spend time with their families and enjoy a positive experience together.
Marvin took great satisfaction in producing wholesome food, watching things grow and creating a place where families could make memories.
Even after McCallum’s Orchard was sold, Marvin wasn’t finished growing things. He purchased 10 acres and created Marvin Gardens, where he planted blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and peaches. He operated the farm market for nearly two decades, continuing to grow fruit and welcome customers well into his later years.
Marvin also remained active in his community, serving as chairman of the Grant Township Planning Commission.
Last year marked his final season operating Marvin Gardens.
And even at 90, Marvin was still planting for the future. Shortly after his 90th birthday, he and his son Matthew planted a new row of raspberries together.
It is a fitting image of Marvin’s life: at 90 years old, still planting something, still expecting it to grow and still looking toward another season.
His greatest harvest, however, wasn’t measured in bushels of apples, baskets of berries or the number of churches he served. It could be found in the family he loved and in the values he passed to the generations that followed him: faith, optimism, leadership, hard work, service to others and the belief that there was always something worthwhile still ahead.
Marvin is survived by his wife, Joyce; his brother, Chuck McCallum (Connie); and his children, Mark McCallum, Mary Manier (Jon) and Matthew McCallum.
Matthew’s children are Chloe Simon (Kyle), Madelyn McCallum and Lyuba Bennett (William). Chloe and Kyle are the parents of Marvin’s great-grandchildren, Callum and Hayden.
Mary and Jon’s children are Daniel Manier (Alyssa) and Grace Manier. Daniel and Alyssa are the parents of Marvin’s great-granddaughter, Mina.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Lucille McCallum; his sisters, Marge and Rose; and his grandson, Julian McCallum.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marvin’s honor to Lexington United Methodist Church or Jeddo United Methodist Church in Michigan.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 8, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Pomeroy Funeral Home – Lexington (located 5635 Main St., Lexington, MI 48450).
The Family Receiving Friends will be Friday, October 9, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM with the Funeral Service is at 11:00 AM at Lexington United Methodist Church (located at 5597 Main St., Lexington, MI 48450). A luncheon will follow the service at the church.
Condolences may be shared online at Pomeroy Funeral Home.
Service Record: [(RE) T 1959; F 1961; RE 2002] Pigeon 1961; Oxford 1966; Manistique 1972; Chelsea 11/1975; Monroe: St. Paul’s 1983; Royal Oak: First 1991; Port Huron District Superintendent 1995; Retired 2002.
Last Updated on October 2, 2026