Lillie Mae (Stevenson) Marshall

Mother Marshall’s Life Reflections

Lillie Mae Marshall was born January 01, 1920, in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. She was the only child of Charles Henry Stevenson and Mary Elizabeth Dorsey Stevenson. The Lord kept His promise towards Sis. Marshall with prolong life here in the earth. This is the 1st commandment that a promise is attached to it, this promise is found in Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:1-4; of God’s Word. She was very dutiful to both her grandparents and parents.

Sis. Marshall gave her life to Christ at an early age. She served faithfully in each church that she entrusted her spiritual man to feed. Lillie Mae was a member of the Metropolitan Temple of KCKS under the leadership of Pastor AM Lampkin, after marrying Willie Scruggs she left Metropolitan Temple to worship with her husband who was a member of St. Peter CME. Though the marriage was later dissolved she remained at St. Peter CME where she served dutifully until her date of departure from this earth. She served in the kitchen where she was noted for making her highly requested punch; she served as a steward on the Stewards’ Board; she served as a mother of the church. As of 2021, Mother Marshall was the oldest member of St. Peter CME having served and holding her membership there for over seventy (70) years.  

Psalms 91:16 Our Lord and Savior shares “with long life will I satisfy you, and show you, My Salvation.” Lillie Mae Marshall, a noted centenarian, was affectionately known as “Mother Marshall”. She called so many her children. Mother Marshall was a graduate of Sumner High School; she also was a graduate of Madame CJ Walker Cosmetology, and she also took culinary classes.

She was a very industrious woman who loved to serve others. Mother Marshall was very resourceful. She was not one for games, she used her time wisely she was an accomplished seamstress who very seldom used a pattern, she would visualize what she wanted to make and would cut it out and make it. Though she knew how to use a sewing machine she preferred to hand stitch her design. Upon the finish work one could not tell if her suit or dress was brought off the sales floor and sown on a sewing machine; she loved to crotchet, knit, and quilt. She also loved gardening. Lillie had a green thumb, throughout her home she believed in nursing weak sick plants back to life. She also loved to experiment with taking seeds and mixing them. During the Spring she has a rose bush that receives several admirers as they drive by that witness the rose bush produces a different color rose each month. She was able to exercise her special hobbies with a group of women who formed a club called the Jolly 16. This group of women met monthly making crafts that they sold and/or donated.

She knew her way around the kitchen, she was noted for her famous homemade rolls, her cobblers, cakes and pies and everybody remembers her famous punch. Before beginning her career as a cosmetologist instructor, she moved to California for a short time. While living in California she received the honor to show off her culinary skills by cooking for Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball; Pearl Bailey and Phyllis Dillard of course her dinner rolls were a knockout along with her lamb with green jellied sauce. Upon her return to Kansas City, she worked as a maid for the Goldblatt family while attending school to become a cosmetologist. She was loved by the Goldblatt family, and she loved them so after she received her license in cosmetology and began working as a full-time beautician, she continued working for the Goldblatt family until she was unable to make that drive. While working as a beautician for Mrs. Mamie Saunders Cosmetology, Mrs. Saunders the proprietor recognizes Lillie Mae’s skill for growing hair, so she offered her an opportunity to assist her in a new venture, Saunders Cosmetology School. Lillie Mae accepted the challenge and became Mrs. Saunders assistant. She handled the books and assisted in the teaching.

She is preceded in death by grandparents, John, and Hattie Dorsey; parents, Charles, and Mary Stevenson; her daughter, Deanna Jean McConnell; husband, Nelson Marshall.  She departed this life on Monday, November 01, 2021, at 2:56 a.m.

She leaves to cherish her memories, three daughters; Doris Carole (Grover) Sanders, Kansas City, Missouri; Ethelena (Maurice) Smith, Kansas City, Kansas; and Marceline Burford, St. Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, Theressa McConnell, Kansas City, Kansas; Mack (Evelyn) McConnell, III; Jacqueline (Victor) Lindmark, Kansas City, Missouri; Roderick (Sherlynn) McConnell, Sr., Kansas City, Kansas; Tyran Scott McConnell, Blue Springs, Missouri; Geran (Dionna) McConnell, Kansas City, Missouri; Michael Smith, Kansas City, Kansas; Anthony Smith, Kansas City, Kansas; Marshall Turner II; Christopher Turner; Delbert Turner; Judith Jones; Shaun Ray Jones; Derrius Washington; a foster daughter, Nicole Stansbury, Denton, Texas; a very special friend, Mr. Joe Jennings, Kansas City, Kansas and host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, her St. Peter CME church family; and a host of friends and relatives. It would be remiss to not include some very special people that she called her children and they honored her as their mother or grandmother, Robert and Lora Louise Smith, Lura Deville, David Haley (US Senate), Roger (Beth) Goldblatt, Clarence (Sandra) Jackson; Janice Spratling; Peggy Ross; Octavia North, Joel Hibler, Jr. Jackie McClenton, Harriet Williams, Cheryl McConnell, Alecia McConnell; Loren Solomon; Ottawa (Ramona) Williams; Mr. and Mrs. Rollins; a very special man who truly blessed her soul, young Emmanuel McIntosh.

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