Mr. Ben H. "Zeus" Marshall

MARSHALL, Mr. Ben H. "Zeus" - Age 78, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2018 at McLaren-Flint. Family hour 10:00 AM Monday, October 22, 2018 at Vernon Chapel AME Church, 5802 Dupont St. with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Rev. Roosevelt Brown, officiating, Rev. Douglas Banks, Host Pastor. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Monday. Mr. Marshall will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday with family present from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM to receive friends. Ben Hayes Marshall, 78, affectionately known as Zeus, departed this earth quietly on Sunday, October 14, 2018 surrounded by his loving wife, children and special friends. Zeus was born into a Christian home on March 27, 1940 in Edwards, Mississippi to the late Walter Eugene and Alice Mae (Jenkins) Marshall. He was the 12th child of 14 children. He professed his love for Christ at a very early age. During his time between attending Utica High School, and later Utica Junior College, this very studious and trustworthy young man started driving buses for the school system. On many a day he had the lives of the community youth in the palms of his hands. Mr. Marshall then completed his Bachelors degree studies beneath the shade of giant trees at Alcorn State University. It was here at Alcorn that Ben learned the game of tennis. It would be instrumental in his future in many ways. He later earned a Masters degree from Eastern Michigan University. In 1961, Ben met the lovely Lena Mae (Phillips), affectionately known as June. In her, he found his good thing. They courted for 2 years. Zeus was then drafted into the military. After completing basic training, they were married on October 6, 1963. His tour of duty took him to Germany where he was an Office Specialist. He always exclaimed that he had never been that cold before in his life. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Ben and Lena relocated to Flint, Michigan to begin the next adventures in their lives. Soon he was working for General Motors. This job didn’t last really long because this avid reader had a dream of being a college president. He finished studies to become a certified teacher to change the lives of future generations. Among his various roles at Flint Northwestern High School (which he referred to as The University), he was the tennis coach. He was even awarded Tennis Coach of the Year. He was the game announcer – both football and basketball. Although he retired with over 30 years, he never stopped teaching and coaching. It was in his blood. He re-retired in the late 2000s. Ben was great at all things he attempted. The favor on his life was evident in the fruit that he bore. He was a master at gardening. During the 80s and 90s and early 2000s his yard was often voted as Yard of the month by the Cranwood Drive Block Club. He spent many hours tilling, planting, and harvesting the flowers and shrubs in the yard. Another area of fruit was in ministry. To all who would listen, he was a great orator. He spoke daily about the love that the Father has for his own. This culminated in him being the Men’s Sunday School teacher at Vernon Chapel AME Church until his health deteriorated. He would study for hours and hours in preparation to teach the classes. He also shared at various Night Sunday School functions. He loved to serve in whatever capacity needed at Vernon Chapel. He loved Vernon and Vernon loved him. This quick witted man with the beautiful smile enjoyed every book he could get his hands on. He often referred to himself as a dinosaur. He didn’t like the computers. Zeus retired when he had to use them everyday for school. He soon conquered this fear when he actually took a course and passed with flying colors. His family and friends marveled at his love for Spacebook. Sports were also in his blood. He could call the game with the best of them. Football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, you name it, he would watch it. The Boston Celtics, Michigan State teams as well as Alcorn State University programs were his absolute favorites. This man of quiet strength leaves to cherish his memory, his loving, devoted wife of 55 years, Lena Phillips Marshall, four loving children, Valerie Marshall, Derrick Marshall, Delmond Marshall, all of Flint, and Sheri Marshall of Snellville, GA. Also 5 loving grandchildren, TaShara, the apple of his eye, her brothers, Joshua and Jayson – affectionately called “the horses” of Snellville, GA, and Rasheed and Kiara of Flint. Sisters: Gladys Williams and Alma Jean Banks of Mississippi. Sister in laws Eunice Phillips, Alma (Willie) Miller of Mississippi, Ms. Jessye L. (Gerald) Andrews of DeSoto, Texas, Leona Marshall of Gardenia, California. Brothers in law, Charlie R. (Deloris) Phillips of Flint, Michigan, Mansfield (Willie B) Phillips of Madison, Mississippi. Lee Edwards (Diana) Phillips of Houston, Texas and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of students of Northwestern High School. He loved these men like sons, Arthur Grundy, Joe Shelby, Gordon Brown, Wendell Quinn, LeRon Johnson, Timothy Baldwin, Pastor Keith Evans. Also mourning this loss are dear friends including Roosevelt (Ruth) Tardy and special in town cousins, the Rouser family, the McDonald family, the Thomas family and the Gray family. The family would like to express special thanks for Dr. Geeta Rode, Dr. Ethway Raj, Dr. Ahmad Abdel Halim, and Dr. C. B. Malde, Retired doctor for their professional and personal care of our loved one.

Mr. Ben H. "Zeus" Marshall

March 27, 1940 - October 14, 2018