Elder Margaret E. Harper is one of eight children born to the late Rev. Tryon & Mary Eichelberger, Sr. She was born and raised in Columbia, SC, and attended public school in Richland County. She earned twenty-four (24) semester hours in Religious Studies at Benedict College, and also earned a Certificate in Pastoral Counseling at Palmetto Health Baptist. Elder Harper became licensed as a Minister of the Gospel in 1996, and was ordained as Elder in 2005. She is the Founder and Leader of Shekinah Glory Family Care Ministries, located in Columbia, sc. She was married to her husband of 50 years, the late Dea. Melvin Harper, Jr. and they have 4 children, 13 grands and 5 great-grands.

Elder Harper has done extensive Volunteer service in the SC Dept of Juvenile Justice, Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and SC Department of Corrections--both male and female institutions, for the past 30+ years. She currently serves as Project Coordinator for Eau Claire Ministerial Alliance, which has partnered with Richland County School District One, to provide spiritual reinforcement to the schools through prayer. Each week, the Alliance visits schools to pray with Administration, Faculty and Staff. Although they are not allowed to pray directly with the students, the students are always the primary focus! Elder Harper has served in this capacity for approximately 12 years. In addition, she regularly visits persons that are hospitalized, those who are in rehabilitation centers, and those who are home-bound, to offer prayer and spiritual counsel. Once a month, she ministers to Seniors at Life Care Center in Northeast Columbia, and she provides Youth Ministry to students at Wil Lou Grey Opportunity School in West Columbia. Her PASSION for God has created her COMPASSION for people, and she is determined to live life on that premise.

Elder Harper loves the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and strength, and her heartfelt desire is to bring souls into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Her daily motivation is found in: