Rev. Marshall Hughes' Obituary
Decatur – Rev. Marshall Hughes, 91, of Decatur, IL, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at Generations at McKinley Place, Decatur.
Rev. Hughes was born November 19, 1927, in Harmon, TX, the son of Charles Hughes and Magnolia Simmons. He graduated from Douglas High School in Oklahoma City, OK. On Sept. 13, 1947 he married Fern Brown and was blessed with four children. He served in the Navy for many years. After being discharged from the Navy he went to work at Tinker Air Force Base as a carpenter.
He was called to preach God’s word at an early age. He preached and served in and around Oklahoma City, OK, before becoming pastor of Providence Baptist Church in El Reno, OK, a church he helped build now names New Providence Baptist Church. After leaving New Providence, he became pastor of Friendship Baptist Church and he preached there for several years.
On February 22, 1970, he was elected pastor of Northside Missionary Baptist Church and moved his family to Decatur. Under Rev. Hughes’s leadership the church bought land on Lowber Street for a new building. Ground breaking was held July 3, 1983 and on July 8, 1984 Rev. Hughes, church members and members of the community entered the Greater Northside Baptist Church. The fellowship hall has been named Rev. Marshall Hughes Fellowship Hall.
Rev. Hughes was instrumental in Starting the 2nd Sunday Musicals, active in a number of civic groups, president of the Ministerial Alliance, Vice Chair of Decatur Human Relations Commission, president of Office Economic Opportunity (O.E.O.), vice moderator of the Baptist Orthodox Wood River District Assistant to Rev. Oliver Johnson, served as Chairman of Sunday School and B.T.U. Congress (Wood River District).
Rev Hughes preached his last sermon as pastor of Greater Northside in March of 1990. Rev. Hughes was loved and admired by many Christians and Non-Christians. “Everybody was Somebody to him”
Rev. Hughes then returned to Oklahoma where he was pastor at Wannamaker Baptist Church in Watonga, OK, until he returned to Decatur a short time later. While in Decatur he worked as a funeral assistant for Graceland/Fairlawn and Moran & Goebel Funeral Homes, preached at Church Of The Living God Temple #1, Trinity CME Church and Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church where he served as pastor until his death.
After his wife Fern passed away, he married Shirley Warnsley October 6, 1999 and in this union gained three stepsons.
Left not to mourn but to cherish fond memories are his wife, Shirley Hughes of Decatur; his oldest son, Michael (Mauva) Hughes of Decatur, son, Rev. William Helm of VA, daughters: Marcia Muhammad of Oklahoma City, OK, and Zita Hughes Jackson of Philadelphia, PA; stepsons: Keith (Michelle) Warnsley, Toppie (Kendra) Warnsley and Galen Dawson. A host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Fern Hughes; son, Marshall Hughes Jr.; his mother and father, one brother, one grandson and one great granddaughter.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 22, 2019, from 4 pm until the time of a memorial service at 6 pm at the Church Of The Living God Temple #1. Homegoing services to celebrate his life will be 2 pm Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Northside Missionary Baptist Church; visitation will be one hour prior at the church. Burial will take place Monday, March 25, 2019 at I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Watonga, OK.
Special thanks to Dorothy Cox-Stole, special friend, Harbor Light Hospice, Dr. Benjamin Esparaz and Cancer Care staff and Dr. Muhammad Khan and staff.
The Hughes family is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62526. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.moranandgoebel.com.
What’s your fondest memory of Marshall?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marshall?
Share a story where Marshall's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marshall you’ll never forget.
How did Marshall make you smile?