"Brothers and sisters, we do not want to be uninformed, about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14 (NIV)
Indeed, Elizabeth M Barclay Marsh made her earthly transition on Sunday afternoon May 24th 2020, at her daughter's residence in Johnston, Rhode Island. She was 88.
Ma Liz, as she was affectionately called, was born November 17, 1931, in Monrovia, Liberia. She was adopted soon after by the late Augusta Barclay.
As a young lady in Liberia, Ma Liz worked as a dietician at BW Harris Episcopal School in Monrovia. She later used her incredible cooking skills at the Cooper Clinic, where she was the chief dietician for many years. Until her death, Ma Liz continued to receive compliments from the children whose lives she touched while working as a dietician. Even though she had seven children of her own, she was called Mama by many more.
Upon immigrating to the United States, Ma Liz worked for Stella Orton Home Care, where she was a home health aide until her retirement. She received praise from both her employer and her clients for her work because she always displayed the necessary qualities of a good home health aide - she was respectful to her clients, empathetic to their needs, reliable when it mattered at the most, patient with difficult clients and caring in all situations.
Ma Liz was a devoted member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Providence, RI, since November 24, 2002, Shepard by Pastor Leon Schultz. She traveled back to her beloved homeland of Liberia on a mission’s trip with her church in support of the establishment of the Gbarnga Lutheran Training Center serving students in the pre-kindergarten-8th grade, and also older students and adults through its vocational program.
Ma Liz's life was centered on her family. She was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to our large family. She was a major influence in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She was clothed with beauty, kindness, and compassion.
Ma Liz joins her late husband, George K Marsh, in heaven. She is preceded in death by her sons, Alfred Marsh and Samuel Marsh.
She is survived by her children: George A. Marsh, Sr. (Victoria), Augusta Marsh- Socree (Daniel), Georgia Marsh-Davies (Albert), Elizabeth Marsh-Hage (David), Augustine Nathan Marsh (Pam) and Sister Naomi Barclay-Howe (Ernest);
Grandchildren: Augustine Marsh, Jr. (Lib), Michelle Davidson (Norcliffe), Tanneh T. Roberts, Rev. Jerry K Addy (Shantel), Samantha T. Ajavon, Albert K. Davies Jr., Kaima S. Dunbar-Williams (David), George K. Marsh Jr. (Deborah), George M. Davies, M.D., Stanley N. Dunbar Jr., Samuel B. Marsh, Jr., Kenneth T. Marsh, Denise V. Davies, Philip Marsh, Massa Nathan, Brianna P. Davies, Sabina Marsh, Kiande Marsh, Tiyan Marsh, Dementry Nathan, Lydia P. L. Sieh (Lib), and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 13th from 10:00 - 11:00am at Keefe Funeral Home, Five Higginson Ave., Lincoln, followed by a funeral home service at 11:00am. Burial is private in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence.
Due to COVID-19, all are required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Live streaming will be available.(The video stream window will appear on this page, below Elizabeth's obituary at 10:00am on Saturday).