Celebration Of Life: 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Location: Northside Christian Church
Reception & Visitation: Following the Service
Location: Northside Christian Church
How do we share the news of something so deeply joyful and grievous? It is with both, that we tell of our dear husband, father and Paca passing from this life into his heavenly home with Jesus on February 2, 2023. James Adrian Marshall lived an abundant life.
He was born the son of James (Jake) Marshall Sr. and Eleanor Minter Marshall. Adrian grew up in Newport News and Hampton with his grandparents, Lorenzo and Hattie Marshall, graduating in 1958 from Hampton High School and later from the apprentice school at NASA as a machinist.
On February 18, 1961, he married his lifelong friend and sweetheart, Carolyn Armstrong. They enjoyed almost 62 years of love, friendship, faith, family, and building a life on Jesus Christ. They were blessed to share that with many so dear to their hearts over all these years. Their greatest gifts are their three children: Jeff Marshall and his wife, Mary Ellen, Christina Hanna and her husband, Mike, and Sharon Thomas and her husband, Marvin, and the rich blessings of their 9 grandchildren and their spouses, 15 great-grandchildren, and one more coming soon. He is also survived by his sisters, Lorene Cuthrell and Cindy Marshall, as well as many in-laws and cousins.
In 1965, Adrian began a real estate career specializing in both residential and commercial properties that spanned into the summer of 2022 when he closed his last sale. He loved helping people build their lives and businesses as he worked for several agencies in the area and also founded and managed his own real estate firms.
Adrian grew up attending First Friends Church and as a young adult, he came to know Christ as Lord. He spent 52 years serving the Lord and His people at Northside Christian Church as deacon, elder, trustee, teacher, choir member, youth sponsor, builder, and also in evangelism, missions, benevolence and more. Adrian found much joy in selflessly serving others, especially the elderly and needy. He also had a great love for singing hymns and is no doubt singing joyfully in heaven now. He and Carolyn have hosted a community group Bible study in their home for over 20 years and treasure the relationships built in those times.
He was a master woodworker, finding much joy in creating special gifts for those he loved and served. One of his most special projects was handcrafting communion tables for his church from a walnut tree on the church’s new property. He could often be found in his woodshop, and so many in the family treasure many of his beautiful creations.
Adrian was a member of the Tidewater Woodworkers, the President of Warwick Kiwanis Club, and an officer in the Peninsula Rotary Club. He enjoyed many beach vacations with family, traveling with friends, boating, fishing, golfing, biking, cheering his grandchildren on in sports, and his afternoon ice cream.
When someone lives such a full life, their absence is felt in a huge way. Our hearts surely grieve, but not without hope, because we also smile with great joy knowing our husband, father, Paca, brother and friend is in heaven, living in the great eternal abundance of LIFE granted him through his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A Private Burial will take place at Parklawn Cemetery in Hampton, VA. Adrian’s life will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Northside Christian Church in Yorktown, VA. The family invites all who loved him to attend. Reception and visitation to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Adrian’s honor to non-profit ministries founded by his children:
Needles Eye Ministries – 6084 Dortches Blvd, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, 27804
Established Footsteps Ministry – www.establishedfootsteps.com / PO Box 15575, Newport News, VA 23608
Arrangements by Weymouth Funeral Home.
