Amanda Viola Marshall

Virginia Beach - Amanda Viola Marshall “Billie,” died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 from heart disease at Chambrel Williamsburg Assisted Living. She was born on Oct. 5, 1923 in Guilford County, N.C. to Robert Lewis Tallant and Bessie Smith Tallant. Shaped by the great depression, stoic in adversity, she saved sacrificially to provide education for her children, and was frugal and prudent all of her life. She was known for her quick wit and sense of humor, which was noted in the medical record by every physician who treated her up to the very end. She was a passionate reader, rose gardener and gourmet cook, delighting in providing delicious meals to her neighbors in Harbour Gate Condominium where she lived until shortly before she died. A woman of enduring faith and personal conviction, she taught Sunday school and served in many leadership roles in Christ Presbyterian Church, including 6 years as Clerk of the Session.

Billie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was the oldest surviving girl of 7 children. She was predeceased by Ruby Evelyn Tallant, Robert Tallant Jr., and Mildred Yvonne Brady. She is survived by her brothers Joseph Willard Tallant, Loyd Blackburn Tallant and his wife Barbara, and James Douglas Tallant all of Greensboro, N.C. and by her sister Peggy Frances Griffin and her husband Tom of Charlotte, N.C. There are many nieces and nephews as well.

Billie married Larry Marshall in August of 1944, while he was recovering from injuries received while serving in the Marine Corps during the war. They were married 60 years before his death in 2005. They are survived by 3 children, one son and two daughters: Lawrence E. Marshall II “Lem” and his wife Lisa of Richmond, VA; Cheryl Marshall Pharr and her husband Scott of Williamsburg, VA; and Susan Laurie Morris and her husband Lee of Portsmouth, VA. There are 6 grandchildren: Lauren Anne Marshall, Emily Tallant Marshall, and John Lawrence Marshall, all of Richmond; Scott Yorke Pharr IV and his wife Emily, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Elizabeth Pharr McCullough and her husband Mark of Raleigh, N.C.; and Marshall Charles Benbow and his wife Diane of Greensboro, N.C. There are 8 great-grandchildren: Thomas Yorke McCullough and John Marshall McCullough of Raleigh; Emily Scott Pharr, Parker Gates Pharr, and Henry Lawrence Pharr, of Winston-Salem, and Psalter Renee Benbow, Susan Elizabeth Benbow and Jacob Marshall Benbow of Greensboro.

The family will receive friends from 6– 8 p.m., Wed. Feb. 15, 2012 at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Rd., Virginia Beach, VA. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Thurs. Feb. 16, 2012 at the funeral home. Interment will be in Rosewood Memorial Park immediately after the service. You may pay condolences to the family at www.kellumfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made to Union Mission Ministries, 5160 East Va. Beach Blvd. Norfolk, VA or to Ocean Park Fire Dept., 3769 Stratford Rd. Va. Beach, VA.