Grace's Story

After Peter Marshall died in 1949, his wife Catherine decided to write a book about his life and walk with God as a way of dealing with her grief. And so began “A Man Called Peter”—a book that would touch millions of lives and launch Catherine Marshall into her life as a best-selling Christian author.

But before the book reached the shelves, it first impacted the woman who typed the manuscript as Catherine’s secretary—Grace Redding.

Now one hundred years old, Grace remembers her time with Catherine and the depth and beauty of the book she transcribed. “‘A Man Called Peter’ is the biography of an exceptional man, one who felt that God had tapped him on the shoulder,” she said.

Grace was born in Los Angeles, California. After high school and a year at a business college, she got a job as a secretary and quickly became an invaluable part of the company. She was offered a job in Washington, D.C., and moved across country where she would meet her future-husband, Bill Redding. They had two children and Grace settled in taking care of her family and working part-time doing secretarial work for her church. 

It was through this connection that Grace met Catherine. Grace’s “part-time” work at the church was practically full-time, and she wanted to cut down on her hours. When a woman applied for the secretary job at the church, she told Grace about her previous work which was now open—a part-time secretary for a woman who was writing a biography about her husband. So Grace became the hands that typed “A Man Called Peter.” 

But Grace and Catherine had more than a working relationship—they became life-long friends. Shortly after Catherine’s book was published (which reached the Best Seller’s list within ten days), Grace and her family decided to move to Florida. She saved the letter Catherine wrote her upon getting the news: "Your letter received, and of course, I’m not surprised at the news. Somehow, I believe that it is right for you and Bill, and that God indeed had a hand in it. On the other hand, from a purely selfish point of view, I shall miss you sorely and hate to think of starting out in the Fall without you. I could never find the words to tell you what you and your sweet spirit have meant to me. But, then, I’m sure you know how fond I am of you. ~Affectionately, Catherine"

It did not take long for word to spread in Grace’s new community that she had typed the now well-known book, “A Man Called Peter.” She began receiving invitations to review the book and speak about her work with Catherine.

Grace continued her correspondence with Catherine throughout Catherine’s life. When Grace’s husband died and she was diagnosed with cancer, Catherine wrote her saying: “Grace is going to be completely cured. She will never know exactly how or when, but in her efforts to carry on without Bill, to rear her children, etc., she will just forget about herself and presently she is going to find that in this process, her trouble is gone and forgotten.” Grace underwent surgery for her cancer and it completely disappeared.

Years later, however, tragedy stuck again when her son Bill, a commercial pilot, was killed in a crash during a pleasure flight the day after giving his sister away in marriage. Catherine again wrote to her friend, saying, “I am just grateful that you did have and do have in the present, A LIVING LORD whom you know personally, to whom to turn to at such a time.”

Grace continued having speaking engagements about her work with Catherine Marshall; but as time went on, audiences wanted to hear more about Grace’s own testimony and relationship with God—how she survived cancer and the deaths of her husband and son. Grace soon became known for her uplifting talks on “Being a Happy Christian.”

Grace said she always felt inspired by Catherine’s words, “We should never hesitate to try the impossible. God does have a special work for us to do in the world.”

*Sue Richardson and Cherise Ryan Curby contributed to the writing of this article.