Marcella Dean Folson

Mrs. Marcella Dean (Sowell) Folson, daughter of Leonard and Cora (Green) Sowell, was born October 9, 1927, in Russell, Kansas. While in Russell, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior as a young teenager and was baptized at the Russell Missionary Baptist Church where her grandfather Oscar Green was the pastor. She sang in the choir and served on the usher board. She graduated from Russell High School in 1945, where she played basketball and ran track. She also learned how to bowl in Kansas. She was employed at the local post office until she relocated to Indiana.

Mrs. Folson came to Indianapolis, Indiana, in the 1950’s with her older sister Betty (Sowell) Sultzer and ended up living here. She met and later married Joseph F. Folson, Sr., on November 15, 1958. They were happily married for 57 years. Marcella joined Eastside Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Andrew L. Williams; Eastside is currently pastored by Pastor Ray S. Ware. She was employed by Topps, which was a large variety store, by Methodist Hospital, and at last by Peerless Pump until her retirement in 1989. She bowled with the Entertainers League at what was known as Raceway Bowl. She ended her bowling �"career” at Hindel Bowl in 2009. She was truly a sports fan of bowling, football, and basketball. If the house windows were open, she could be heard, even a block away, cheering on our Indianapolis home teams and any other teams as long as they were not playing the home team!

Mrs. Folson was a child of the King, devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was full of life until dementia claimed a little of her influential spirit. One thing that dementia did not claim was her love for GOD. If she couldn’t remember anything else, she could easily recall that GOD was GOOD to her! For that, we give HIM Glory!

God called for Mrs. Marcella Dean Folson to depart this life on March 28th, 2016 at the age of 88. Preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers (Kenneth and Robert Sowell), three sisters (Wanda Covington and Wanda’s twin Vana D. who died at birth), and Betty Sultzer. She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Joseph; children, Steven; Joseph, Jr. (Shanika); Sherri; and Tina; grandchildren, Michael Alfonzo (Shemika); Andrew Hines ( Nacoya); Brandon and Crystal Folson; Andrene Harrod; Chanell and Jonathan Folson; and Christopher Gibbs; great-grandchildren, Trashawn, Michael, Jr. and Sierra Alfonzo; Samiyah and Na’ziah Hines; Chalyn Harrod; Cha’Niya Davis; her best friend, Minnie Germany; close special friend to the family, Sister JoAnna Toliver; and a host of other relatives and friends.