[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 149 (Saturday, August 22, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E786-E787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY OF DR. JOHN DENT MARSHALL, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, August 22, 2020

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
compassionate medical doctor, fiery civil rights activist, a tremendous 
man of faith, and great friend of longstanding, Dr. John Dent Marshall, 
Jr. Sadly, Dr. Marshall passed away on August 12, 2020, at the age of 
74 after a long and courageous battle with COVID-19. His homegoing 
service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at the Hillcrest 
Abbey West Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia. On Saturday, 
August 29, 2020, a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the 
Restoration Church of Americus, Inc. in Americus, Georgia. His passing 
leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his family, friends, and the 
countless lives that he touched as a medical doctor and civil rights 
activist.
  Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. was born on June 13, 1946, in Savannah, 
Georgia, the eldest son of the late Lila S. and John D. Marshall, Sr. 
He was educated in the Chatham County Public School system, where he 
graduated from Alfred E. Beach High School with

[[Page E787]]

honors in 1964. He continued his education at Savannah State College 
(now University), graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1968.
  He answered the solemn call to serve his nation during the Vietnam 
Conflict, proudly serving in the United States Air Force for four years 
where he was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama as a Weather Observer 
Specialist.
  Following his service in the Air Force, he engaged in further career 
and educational pursuits. He worked for Green Giant, Inc. in Chicago, 
Illinois and for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. 
Marshall also graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1982, 
fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a Medical Doctor.
  He began his three-decade medical practice in Plains, Georgia. The 
highlight of his time there was having our 39th President, Jimmy 
Carter, as one of his patients. After leaving Plains he opened a 
practice in Leslie, Georgia, but went on to make his greatest impact in 
Americus, Georgia, where he operated a Family Medical Practice for 24 
years.
  Our late and beloved colleague, Congressman John Lewis, often said 
that ``When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, 
you have to speak up. You have to say something: you have to do 
something.'' Dr. Marshall was a dedicated civil rights activist who did 
just that.
  He said what others were afraid to say. He fought battles that others 
were afraid to fight. He truly gave a voice to the voiceless and hope 
to the hopeless. Dr. Marshall was actively involved and served 
faithfully as the president of the Americus-Sumter branch of The NAACP 
for 14 years. He was also the owner and publisher of the Americus 
Sumter-Observer Newspaper, which he used as a platform to expand his 
civil rights advocacy by exposing injustice, holding those in power 
accountable, and highlighting stories that may not otherwise have been 
told.
  Dr. Marshall loved his family and his patients. He was always pushing 
both groups to do the right thing for their physical, spiritual, and 
social well-being. He delighted in the successes of all of those that 
he pushed to be better and reach their full potential.
  He was indeed a very spiritual man who loved God and was guided by 
God's purpose for his life. He felt a calling to serve ``the least of 
these'' and gave his all in that service.
  On a personal note, Dr. Marshall was my friend and supporter. He 
always encouraged me, and I will miss his wise advice and sage counsel. 
He indeed spoke truth to power and always gave me the unvarnished 
truth. He never told me what I wanted to hear, but always told me what 
he felt I needed to hear. While we did not always agree, our mutual 
respect and friendship created an unbreakable bond. Dr. Marshall did so 
much for so many for so long to improve the lives of the people he 
encountered. Truly, the world is a better place because Dr. Marshall 
passed this way.
  Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with the more than 
730,000 people of the Second Congressional District and countless 
others across the nation salute Dr. John Dent Marshall, Jr. for his 
outstanding service to his community and our nation. Moreover, I ask my 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our 
deepest condolences to Dr. Marshall's family, friends, loved ones, and 
all of those who mourn his loss. We pray that they will be consoled and 
comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, 
and months ahead.

                          ____________________