Donald Ray Marston

35 years ago, Don Marston’s goal was to live long enough to see his children graduate high school. More than 20 years after the last high school graduation, Donald Ray Marston died peacefully after a brief illness. He was 68 years old and a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.

Born May 3, 1955, in Charleston, South Carolina, Don spent most of his childhood in Rockingham, North Carolina where he excelled at athletics. In addition to playing football, basketball, and baseball for many years, Don was a proud member of the Richmond Senior High School 1973 State Championship Baseball team.

Don met his future wife, Judy, in Gastonia, North Carolina and they began dating while they served as camp counselors at Camp Caswell. Don graduated from Campbell University with a B.A. in English and went on to complete a Masters of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Don and Judy married in 1978, moved to the Memphis area in 1981. They soon started a family welcoming Matt in 1983 and Kimmy in 1985. Don served as a pastor in the Memphis area for the past 41 years. At the time of his death, he was pastor of Forest Hill Baptist Church and living in Collierville, TN.

In 1986, Don was diagnosed with and treated for non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, which quickly recurred in 1989. Don underwent a bone marrow transplant, one of the first few successful procedures of those kinds completed in Memphis. Following his successful treatment, Don spent 15 years as Director of Patient Support of Memphis Cancer Center, and leading support groups for cancer patients and survivors for years.

Don cherished the life he was given. Though not a born Memphian, he was an avid fan of all things Memphis, especially the Tigers, Redbirds, Grizzlies, and Memphis-Style Barbeque. His primary conflict with others revolved around his insistence on always picking up the tab at a restaurant.

Don spent countless hours on the phone with his parents, siblings, children and grandchildren. If you met Don Marston, you soon saw pictures of Isaac and Lena and heard proud stories of the accomplishments of Kimmy and Matt. He was utterly devoted to Judy and delighted in making her laugh.

Don Marston welcomed everyone with warmth, deep compassion, and authentic love. He will be remembered as a man who opened his arms to the world and embraced all exactly where they were.

Don is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Jenny B. Marston.

Don is loved and will be missed by his wife of 45 years, Judy Marston; Siblings Dianne Barber (Gene) of Gastonia, NC; Ron Marston of Charlotte, NC; Children Matt Marston (Elizabeth) of Athens, GA and Kimmy Kirby of Memphis; Grandchildren Isaac Marston and Lena Marston of Athens, GA; and nieces, nephews, and members of many church families across Memphis.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on Tuesday, January 23, at Forest Hill Baptist Church preceded by visitation at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, any memorials can be sent to Forest Hill Baptist Church.