Catherine Shirley (White) Marshall

Catherine Shirley White was born on July 5, 1934, to Minnie Gardner White and Frank White in Brooklyn, New York. She often spoke of how blessed she was to have been raised in a Christian home. Her parents were devout believers who manifested their faith through the tenets of the Primitive Baptist religion. Catherine was deeply influenced by the music of the Primitive Baptist Church. Oftentimes, while sewing or cooking, her melodious voice could be heard humming and singing, what she would call “the old meters and hymns”.

Although Frank and Minnie migrated to and lived in New York, they were deeply committed to their southern family. When the need arose to clear and harvest crops on the family farm, Frank and the family moved back south and made their residence in Worth County. Two years later, they moved to Albany, Georgia, where the children could be afforded a better educational opportunity.

Catherine was extremely studious, and it was manifested in her educational pursuits and academic excellence. In 1951, at the age of 16, having earned the honor of valedictorian, she graduated from Monroe High School in Albany, GA. Upon completing high school, she enrolled at Paine College in Augusta, GA, and continued her education. There, in 1955, she received a bachelor’s degree in English and earned the honor of salutatorian of her class. Driven by her desire for higher education, Catherine sought a master's degree from the University of Georgia. But due to the state’s prejudiced segregation policies of that era, she was denied admission. Instead, the state of Georgia paid for her to attend Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York City, where she received a Master’s Degree in Education.

Catherine embarked on an industrious teaching career. Her initial employment was at Monroe High School, her alma mater, in Albany, GA. However, while visiting with family in Amityville, Long Island, she was encouraged to apply for a teaching position there. She was immediately hired and often spoke of her disbelief when she realized she would be paid three times her Georgia salary.

While visiting her parents in Albany, Catherine met David Marshall, an insurance executive. They fell in love and were married on May 28, 1967. David and Catherine made their home in Atlanta, Georgia, during the early years of their marriage, with Catherine continuing her career as an educator. However, in 1969, David’s firm transferred him to Houston, Texas. It was in historic Third Ward where they raised their three children: Valerie, Amelia, and David Jr.

In Houston, she dedicated 25 years to teaching in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), serving at Kashmere High School, T.R. Rogers Jr. High School, and Paul Revere Middle School. Throughout her career, she earned additional certifications, including math and computer science, from Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, and Rice University. At Paul Revere, she was an award-winning math teacher and the sponsor of a very successful Number Sense program. She used the stock market as a math teaching tool, providing an engaging way for students to apply arithmetic, percentages, statistics, and algebraic concepts through simulated portfolio management. She retired in 1994.

Catherine’s greatest passion was singing. She sang in Monroe High School’s choir, the Paine College Choir, and Columbia’s Teachers College Choir, where she participated in recording their concert of Robert Frost Poems with compositions by Randall Thompson. Her ultimate passion for singing was exemplified in the choir of Walls Chapel AME Zion Church of Houston. On the first Sunday of each month, during the Holy Communion Worship, Catherine’s voice could be heard ringing out as she led the congregation in singing “Let Us Break Bread Together”.

Catherine lived a life of devoted service both in the spiritual and secular spheres. She was a faithful servant of Wall Chapel AME Zion Church, serving many years as a part of the Missionary Society. She led the Culinary Department, dedicating Saturdays to the Food Pantry and gleefully led the “Hanging of the Greens” during Advent. She also volunteered with Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church’s Alzheimer’s support group. Her humanitarian spirit led her to believe that every blessing she received was not exclusively for her. Thus, she consistently used her personal resources to support many individuals and ministries.

Catherine believed wholeheartedly in God's providential movement. She had a deep longing for what she called “that old time religion”. One Sunday, she had the opportunity to visit Lilly Grove Baptist Church. When she heard deacons singing those long meters, prayers being uttered, hymns being raised, and Pastor T. K. Anderson preaching “The Book”, it was settled. She immediately felt that she was back home in the Primitive Baptist Church of her childhood, where her father served as Pastor. She became a member of the church and was a faithful member until her death.

On March 30, 2026, Catherine passed on to her heavenly home. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Frank and Minnie White; her husband of 55 years, David Marshall, Sr; sisters, Ola May Barney and Christine Ellis; brother Frank White Jr. She leaves to mourn her daughters, Valerie Marshall Williams (Rev. Dr. TR Williams Sr.) of Houston, TX; and Amelia Marshall (Daryl Waters) of New York, NY; her son David Marshall, Jr. of Bowie, MD; her grandson Kent Marshall Schaffer of New York, NY; her granddaughters Rosa Catherine Marshall and Cassandra Marie Marshall of Bowie, MD; her blended family; granddaughter, Monique Williams; grandsons, Ted Williams, Jr (Tarkitha), and Lance Williams (Muriel), all of Houston, TX. Others who will mourn her are her nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.