Ms. Alma Marshall

Alma Marshall was born on September 9, 1934, to Flora Austin and Andrew Davis in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She went home to be with the Lord on September 14, 2023. She was educated in the Saint Petersburg, Florida school system and joined Mount Zion AME Church at an early age under the leadership of Rev. Heath. She was a faithful member until she and her daughter Linda moved to Benton Harbor Michigan in 1952. There she met and married Willie Harden (deceased) on October 3, 1959, and to that union five children were born. Never one to stay away from church long she joined New Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. M.H Raspberry. During her time at New Bethel, she sang in the Gospel Chorus, was a member of the Junior Women Mission and supervisor of the Youth Choir. In 1982 she moved to Kansas City, Missouri and united with the Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. E.A Johnson. There she met and married James Marshall on July 5, 1985. She held numerous positions at Mount Vernon serving as: President of the Mission Number 2 for 10 years; President of Senior Women Missionary Union (SWMU) for 6 years; State President General Baptist Convention for Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska for 6 years; Chairperson of the Retreat Queen Contest for 6 years; Chairman of the City Union Mission Family Shelter for 27 years (where they provided meals every fourth Saturday); member of the Mount Vernon Soup Kitchen for 5 years where she was affectionately known as U.S Marshall (those who worked in the Soup Kitchen know why); and was the organizer of Reverend Johnson's first Appreciation Banquet. She was preceded in death by both parents, brothers Walter and Robert Austin, son Andrew Harden, daughter Linda Jones and husband James Marshall. She leaves to cherish her memories: sister Barbara McWilliams; daughters Deborah (Larry) Jones, Esther Harden, Laura (Frankie) Sykes and Sandra (Eliga) Miller; God Children: Nicole Blair, Katricia (Alvin) Kerr, Sandra Dudley, Betty Boswell, Patricia (Donald) Givens, Edward Johnson, and Rev. Malcolm (Darlene) Mathis. She also leaves 11 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, 3 dear friends (Equator Gold, Roberta Slaughter, Vernita Sargeon) as well as a host of family and friends. Funeral services Saturday, September 23, 11:00am at Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00am-11:00am at the church. Services conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel.

Ms. Alma Marshall

September 9, 1934 - September 14, 2023