Ethel Brown Marshall
God in his infinite wisdom, whispered into Ethel Mae Brown Marshall’s ear, and she heard the voice of God whisper; “My Child, Be Still – Rest Now, you are at peace. You’re free now”, and departed this earthly realm on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Born in Summerton, South Carolina, on October 20, 1943; she was the tenth of twelve children, born to the late Henry Franklin and Thelma Ruth McDowell Brown. After graduating High School in Washington, D.C., Ethel enrolled at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, earning her “Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.” She completed her graduate work at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Ethel’s professional career as an educator began as a Sociology Professor at South Carolina State University where she taught for many years as well as at Sweet Briar College in Ithaca New York, retiring from J Crew Inc., in Lynchburg Virginia.
Ethel was a member of Clarendon County School District One Board of Trustees and other Community groups. Continuing to work on making life better for citizens of Summerton. She spent a great deal of time assisting students from Scotts Branch High School with applying for scholarships for college.
Ethel was married to the late CSM Robert Edward Marshall, Sr., who was the love of her life. This union blessed Ethel with five bonus children, affectionately known as, “our children” whom she loved dearly, Janice, Tina, Cheryl, Tony and Robert Jr.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Howard, Henry and Nathaniel Brown; four sisters, Vera Brown, Marian Brown Duren, Eva Brown Quarles and Geneva Brown Finney; one beloved son, Robert Edward Marshall Jr.
Ethel leaves to cherish her loving memory two brothers, Harrison (Nipa) Brown of Sumter and Thomas Brown of the home; two sisters, Beatrice Rivers of Summerton and Maxine Reynolds of Blythewood; four children, Janice M. Spruill and Tina (George) Marshall-Bradley both of Lexington NC, Cheryl A.M. (Randy) Waymer, Tony (Barbara) Marshall; three nephews, Justus Quarles Jr., Carlos (Jessica) Duren and Christopher Brown; five nieces, Barbra Wilson, Vanessa (Carlton) Peters, Yolanda (Moses) Brown, Anita (James) Lewis and Beatrice (Ian) Stewart; a host of other relatives and friends.