~ IN MEMORY ~
Judge Sarah Juanita Daniel Marsh, widow of DL George Elliott
Marsh Sr.
December 4, 1926 ~ February 9, 2013
Please forgive belated notification with the passing of Judge
Sarah Juanita Daniel Marsh, widow of DL employee George Elliott Marsh Sr. who
passed in 1989. The loss of their son Blake inspired and motivated Juanita to
help others and in 1986, the very accomplished Judge Juanita Marsh founded Anchor Hospital of College Park,
Georgia.
========================
Juanita Daniel Marsh, 86, of College Park, GA died Saturday February 9,
2013 peacefully at Piedmont Hospital surrounded by her children and many of her
grandchildren. She died of complications following a hip fracture and surgery.
Juanita was the daughter of E.R. "Bud" and Jessie Stratton Daniel and wife of
George Elliott Marsh, Sr. Juanita was born December 4, 1926 and raised in
Elberton, GA in a loving family. She graduated first in her class at Centerville
High School and attended the University of Georgia on scholarship, where she
graduated in 1946 with a degree in Home Economics. She loved her time at the
University and told stories of working at the dining hall, the bookstore, and
the dorm for room, board, and books. She also studied at Teachers College,
Columbia University. After graduation, she went to Statesboro, GA to work as a
home demonstration agent. There she met and later married George Elliott Marsh
Sr. in December 1947. They moved to Atlanta where George worked for HM Patterson
and later Delta Airlines before his death in 1989. Juanita attended law school
at night, and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1951. She taught elementary
school in Atlanta and Fulton County for many years and had four children. In
1971 she was selected Judge of the City Court of College Park, GA. She was
always very proud of being one of the first women judges in the state of GA. As
judge of College Park, she was very active in her profession, helping to write
the early handbook for Municipal Court judges and serving on the Judicial
Council of Georgia. She was named Ms. South Fulton, and recognized with many
awards and commendations throughout her life. While serving as judge she saw
first-hand the problems of substance abuse. As a result, in the early 1970s she
began to look for treatment options for people with substance abuse and mental
health issues. After facing many challenges with her youngest son Blake, and
convinced of the need for better care for those afflicted with substance
addiction, Juanita founded Anchor Hospital of College Park in 1986. She never
stopped working to help individuals and their families dealing with substance
abuse and mental health issues. Juanita never met a stranger and thoroughly
enjoyed being with others. She helped countless numbers of people from all walks
of life and tried to make a positive difference. She will be missed by all who
knew and loved her. She is predeceased by her husband and her son Blake. She is survived by her daughter Sherry Boynton (Ridge), and sons George
Elliott Marsh, Jr. (Susan) and Charles Bradford Marsh (Betty). Her great joys
were her grandchildren, Christopher and Daryn Marsh, Chris and Ashley Tyndal,
Andrew Marsh, Kimberlie Marsh, Brittan Boynton, Charlie Boynton, Stratton Marsh,
and Sarah Marsh, and one great- granddaughter, McClendon Tyndal. She is also
survived by two siblings, Marshall "Buddy" Daniel and Peggy Bryant. During the
last years of her life she was lovingly cared for by Linda, Sal, and her
longtime dear friend Tress Knight. The family will receive visitors Tuesday
evening from 6-8 at Mowell Funeral Home in Peachtree City. In addition, Juanita
will lie in state one hour before the funeral service at Southwest Christian
Church on Wednesday, February 13 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for
donations to Southwest Christian Hospice, 7225 Lester Road, Union City, GA,
30291 or Southwest Christian Church, 4330 Washington Road, East Point, GA,
30344. Carl J. Mowell Funeral Home, Peachtree City- www.mowellfuneralhome.com 770-487-3959
.Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Feb. 12 to
Feb. 13, 2013
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?pid=163018009#sthash.3SSdDhBE.dpuf
In Memory: George Elliott Marsh Sr.
Birth: Jan. 18, 1922
Death: Dec. 12, 1989
In Memory: Blake Harville Marsh, 40, inspired hospital
Birth: Jul. 15, 1961
Death: Sep. 4, 2001
Teenage drug experimentation partially destroyed
Blake Marsh's brain. His struggles inspired his mother to found Anchor Hospital
in College Park, thereby helping thousands overcome substance abuse.
"In the last few days, you wouldn't believe how
many people have called me to say, 'You've lost your son, but you've saved us,'
" said his mother, Judge Juanita Marsh of Peachtree City. "But I still didn't
want to lose my son."
The loss Judge Marsh refers to occurred more than
20 years ago, when Mr. Marsh was a senior at Woodward Academy. Casual drug use
in high school caused brain damage, and Mr. Marsh's loss of short-term memory
prevented him from functioning as a working adult.
As a youngster, Mr. Marsh was a poster child for
the perfect son. He was smart, athletic, artistic, and personable.
"Blake could talk to anyone," said his brother,
Brad Marsh of Atlanta. "Everyone liked him, and he was into everything." At age
6, he began building radio-controlled model planes. He'd cajole licensed pilots
to help him fly them. At 17, he began taking flying lessons.
Name a sport, and Mr. Marsh excelled. He was a
superb water skier. He was on the wrestling and cross-country track teams for
Woodward Academy. He was a gifted artist, and one of his drawings -- a charcoal
still life of fruit on a table -- hung for years in the admissions office at
Woodward.
Blake Harville Marsh, 40, of Decatur, died of a
heart attack Tuesday at his mother's Peachtree City residence. The funeral is 2
p.m. today at Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City.
Just before Mr. Marsh's high school graduation in
1979, it became apparent something was seriously wrong with him. His mother -- a
judge at the College Park Municipal Court -- leaped into action. "I decided to
build a hospital to save people like him," she said.
She had no money or experience, but persevered. In
1986, Anchor Hospital -- a specialty hospital offering treatment for substance
abuse and psychiatric problems -- opened its doors. Under Judge Marsh's
leadership, it achieved national prominence.
The miracle Judge Marsh sought -- the treatment
that would restore the damage to her son's brain -- never happened. But Mr.
Marsh never complained about his fate.
He lived the last dozen years of his life in group
homes in DeKalb County managed by Community Friendship Inc.
Mr. Marsh tried hard to find transitional
employment, said his brother, but never succeeded. He took joy in simple things:
eating and being with people, playing his guitar, household tasks. "He took
great pride in his jobs at the house such as cleaning the kitchen and bathroom,"
Brad Marsh said.
Mr. Marsh was good at putting people at ease, said
Elaine Gaillard of Fayetteville, a family friend. "He had a great laugh: big,
full, infectious. Even when he had a hard time communicating, that laugh gave
you a glimpse into who he really was," said Ms. Gaillard.
Survivors include a sister, Sherry Boynton of
Fayetteville; and another brother, Elliott Marsh of Brooks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests
contributions be made to Southwest Christian Hospice, 7225 Lester Road, Union
City, GA 30291.
Photo: Brain damaged as a teenager, Blake Marsh
still found joy in simple things, his brother
said.
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