Marian Louise Mark was born on Oct. 31, 1942, to the late Harold Waye and Epsie Armstrong Waye. She was the second child of six and the first daughter.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church.
She attended Kingsland Elementary School and graduated from Ralph Bunche High School in 1961 as class valedictorian. She attended Edward Waters College for one semester. After leaving college, she moved to New York where she lived with her aunts Janie Wood and the late Marie Fairley. She completed a nurse’s aide program and worked at Flower Fifth Hospital. She ended her career as a nurse technician, retiring from Mount Sinai Hospital with more than 33 years of service.
In New York, she met and married Holman Mark and to this union two daughters were born. She was active in her children’s schooling, serving on the Parent’s Association of St. Augustine School. She was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Bronx, N.Y., serving as a trustee and a pastor’s aide. She enjoyed attending various Harlem Week activities where she was treated as the VIP she was. She was a staunch supporter of her daughters’ Hampton University alumni association by attending programs, fundraisers and cooking fried chicken, potato salad and her famous lemon cake for various events.
In 2005, she moved back home, honoring a request and promise she made to her mother. Upon her return, she joined Carnegie Chapel Church. She was an active member serving as financial secretary and on the program committee. She was a member of the Ralph Bunche Class of 1961 alumni organization and the St. Marys chapter of The Red Hats, an organization that connects, supports and encourages women in their pursuit of fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment and fitness while supporting members in the quest to get the most out of life.
Marian enjoyed word puzzles, watching her favorite television shows which included “Judge Judy,” “Hot Bench,” “Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Family Feud,” “The Steve Harvey Show,” westerns, “Murder She Wrote,” “Walker Texas Ranger” and talking on the phone. She loved life, spending time with friends and family, in particular her “two girls, favorite son-in-law and grandsons.”
On Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, Marian peacefully departed this life. Two brothers, Harold Jr. and Richard, preceded her in death.
She leaves to celebrate her life, daughters, Keshia Mark of the Bronx and Akia Smith of Houston, Texas; ex-husband, Holman Mark; son-in-law, LaJuan Smith; grandchildren, Myles and Evan Smith; sisters, Clarena Waye, Dr. Sophia Waye Coley and Willie Marie Hubbard; brother-in-law, Willie Hubbard; aunts, Janie Wood, Rosa Waye and Rosa Mae Waiters; an uncle, Theodore Armstrong; nieces, Epsie (Molly) Roberts and Arisa Robinson; nephews, Willie (Bill) Jr. and Dion Hubbard; two great-nieces; two great-nephews; and a host of cousins, friends, extended family and church family members.
Homegoing service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Carnegie Chapel Church, 987 Kinlaw Road, with a viewing of the body from 9 to 10 a.m. Interment will follow immediately at Kinlaw Cemetery. Repast will be held at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church Family Life Center at 1365 Kinlaw Road.
Royal Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of the arrangements.