Married since 1977 to Former Governor, Jim Folsom, Jr; the Folsoms reside in their hometown of Cullman, AL. They are the parents of two adult children, Mary Meghan Moore Folsom and James Elisha Folsom, III. Meghan is married to Garrick Ambrose and they are the parents of Walker Folsom Ambrose, the Folsom’s first and only grandchild. Meghan and her family live in Ghent, NY. Meghan is the founder and co-owner of MegaMega Projects, a fine jewelry marketing and public relations firm in New York City. James is married to Jamie Peco Folsom and they reside in Nashville, TN where he is the Vice President for Business Development for Yosemite, a digital marketing firm. The Folsoms are members of Grace Episcopal Church in Cullman, where Marsha has served on the Vestry and as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. She currently serves as the Chair of the Gifts and Memorials Committee at Grace.
A life-long resident of Alabama, Marsha Folsom’s professional career, civic activities, and devotion to public service has carried her down many paths. In 2006, she began her business and community development consulting firm, Marsha Folsom, INC. Her consulting clients have included both national and international concerns such as India- based companies seeking business in the US, a national governmental affairs firm in Washington, DC and a law firm in Birmingham, AL. She also co-founded a business development consultancy firm with three Indian partners, two of whom were based in India.
In 2011, she co-founded Resource Fiber, LLC and served as its Chief Development Officer until December of 2021. Since 2022, Mrs. Folsom, in the capacity of Marsha Folsom, INC, has worked with businesses to establish or expand their footprint in Alabama. Currently, she has added to her portfolio by serving as a general consultant to EARTH, the Sylacauga, AL based “East Alabama Rural Innovation and Training Hub” in its endeavor to expand regional prosperity through its workforce and community development programs.
Mrs. Folsom is a member of Leadership Alabama and has been inducted into The University of Alabama’s Women of the Capstone Society. She has Board of Directors positions on the Alabama Network for Family Resource Centers as well as the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, housed at the American Village in Montevallo, AL; where she serves as the Chair of the Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Development Committee. Mrs. Folsom is a former member of the Agriculture Advisory Council to the Federal Reserve Board of Atlanta, GA.
In 1995, Mrs. Folsom was elected to serve on the first elected school board for the Cullman City Schools. During that time she founded the Cullman City Schools Foundation and served as its President from 1996-1999.
In 2000, Mrs. Folsom was the Democratic Nominee for Congress from Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District. She was the first woman candidate in her state to raise over a million dollars for a Congressional campaign. In 2002, she was chosen to lead the Alabama Democratic Party as its Executive Director. Mrs. Folsom has been elected to represent the state of Alabama at three Democratic National Conventions.
Her many years of service to the American Cancer Society include serving as the Annual Crusade Chairman for Alabama, the Alabama Division Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Board of Directors and two years of service on the National Board of Directors. In recognition of this service, Mrs. Folsom was recognized with the Volunteer of the Year Award and also the prestigious St. George Medal from the National Board of Directors for outstanding volunteer service.
Marsha Folsom has also been recognized in Alabama for her advocacy in support of improving the lives of Alabama’s children through enhancing and expanding services and improved educational opportunities. As Alabama’s First Lady, she convened the state’s first Summit for Children which was dedicated to finding ways to improve the future for Alabama’s children. In recognition of her commitment to children, Mrs. Folsom has been honored with several awards including the Friend of the Family Award from the Alabama Home Economics Association; the Outstanding Children’s Advocate of the Year Award from the Alabama Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers and the Outstanding Service to Young Children Award from the Alabama Association for Young Children. In October of 2004, she was presented the James T. Tatum “Spirit of Giving Award” for her many years of service to the Alabama Constitution Village Foundation and its Early Works Children’s Museum in Huntsville, AL.
Mrs. Folsom is a graduate of Fairview High School in Cullman County. She continued her education at The University of Alabama, and is a graduate of the University’s School of Human Environmental Sciences, from which she received the Agnes Ellen Harris Distinguished Alumnae Award.