Dr. George Octavius Marshall, Jr., Professor Emeritus of English of the University of Georgia and longtime Chairman of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia died Wednesday, September 5, age 90.
Born in Americus on February 27, 1922, he was the son of the late Martha Pryor and George Octavius Marshall. He was a graduate of Americus High School and Georgia Southwestern College.
In 1941 he transferred to the University of Georgia and immediately fell in love with the school and the town where he would eventually invest his life. Because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's entry into World War II, he had to accelerate his studies in order to graduate before entering the Army. Despite the abbreviated time, he managed to be actively engaged in campus activities. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Demosthenian, Gridiron and Blue Key as well as writing a column, ""By George,"" for the Red and Black. He graduated in December 1942 with an ABJ and reported for duty after attending Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall's inauguration ceremony in January 1943.
Marshall served as a Supply Sergeant with the 456 AAA (AW) Battalion during World War II. The battalion was assigned to Patton and the Third Army after his arrival in Europe and often guarded Lucky Forward, Patton's Headquarters. Marshall was awarded the Bronze Star. He edited his letters home adding narrative links and footnotes and this was published by Agee Publishers in 1983 as My World War II: The Home Letters of George O. Marshall, Jr.
Upon his return to The States he came back to Athens once again before going to work with The Madisonian. That employment was interrupted when he was diagnosed with far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis contracted in Europe. He spent the next 39 months in Veterans Administration hospitals not knowing whether he would ever be dismissed as bed rest was the only available treatment. He always spoke of ""Beating the Bug"" as his greatest accomplishment, and during his final brief illness he spoke with gratitude of his very long life and the many things he had been allowed to do.
After earning his Master's degree in English from the University of Georgia he went to Austin where he earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas in 1955. He loved the Longhorns – right behind the Bulldogs. He immediately returned to Athens to join the faculty of the English Department, where he remained until his retirement in 1987. Offers from other institutions were appreciated but nothing could dislodge him from the University of Georgia and Athens. Its best interests were his interests. He was active on University System committees and in the Association of University Professors, serving as state president of the latter and on the National Council. Through this work he became very knowledgeable about faculty benefits, leading to his appointment by the Board of Regents to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia – the only appointee of the Regents on that board. He served for 15 years and was the chairman for the last ten years, instituting many new policies and procedures. He was still being thanked by his colleagues for his contributions to the soundness of that large fund.
In 1956 he married Marion West of Athens and through her family became involved in preserving the history of Athens. Marion died in 1964. He and Charlotte Thomas met in 1966, at which time he was president of the Athens Historical Society and he immediately signed her up. They were married in Donalsonville in 1967.
Following his retirement he helped with the publication of an edition of the Civil War letters of his great-grandfather, Captain Shepherd Green Pryor. Later, he and Charlotte helped with seeing several books through the press, including the history of his battalion, and his uncle's book, A Pryor Family Narrative. He published the reminiscences of growing up in Americus in The Sunshine of My Happy Youth in 1998. More recently he proofread Charlotte's first volume of Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, and urged her to finish the other two volumes while he could be in the Acknowledgements, rather than just in the index. He will be in both. He was presently helping edit The Tangible Past of Athens, Georgia.
Survivors include his wife Charlotte Thomas Marshall; his sisters, Sue Marshall Smith of Athens and Ruth Marshall Thomas and her husband Russell of Sarasota, FL; sisters-in-law Mary Anne Thomas Thurman and her husband Howdy of Fort Valley, Betty Jane Coleman Spooner and her husband Billy of Donalsonville, and Lucy Bush Thomas of Donalsonville. He is also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews of three generations and of cousins of extended degrees. He was preceded in death by his sisters Louise Marshall Cosgrove, Marianne Marshall Flaherty and Wilma Marshall Martin.
His funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church where he was a longstanding member, having begun attending during his student days when "Brother Jim" Wilkinson was pastor. The Reverend Paul Baxley, the minister, will officiate and the Reverend Jon Appleton, Pastor Emeritus, has been asked to pray. Gary L. Doster and Milton Leathers will deliver eulogies. Mark Maxwell, classical guitarist, will present a medley of songs chosen by Dr. Marshall to tell the story of his life, and Charles Hooper will sing "How Great Thou Art". A luncheon in the church fellowship hall will follow the service and burial in Oconee Hill Cemetery will take place at 2 p.m.
Palbearers will be Mark Warren, Ludwig Uhlig, Charles Whittemore, Pete McCommons, Ken Storey and Jim Smith.
Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Athens Banner-Herald on September 7, 2012
Born in Americus on February 27, 1922, he was the son of the late Martha Pryor and George Octavius Marshall. He was a graduate of Americus High School and Georgia Southwestern College.
In 1941 he transferred to the University of Georgia and immediately fell in love with the school and the town where he would eventually invest his life. Because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's entry into World War II, he had to accelerate his studies in order to graduate before entering the Army. Despite the abbreviated time, he managed to be actively engaged in campus activities. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Demosthenian, Gridiron and Blue Key as well as writing a column, ""By George,"" for the Red and Black. He graduated in December 1942 with an ABJ and reported for duty after attending Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall's inauguration ceremony in January 1943.
Marshall served as a Supply Sergeant with the 456 AAA (AW) Battalion during World War II. The battalion was assigned to Patton and the Third Army after his arrival in Europe and often guarded Lucky Forward, Patton's Headquarters. Marshall was awarded the Bronze Star. He edited his letters home adding narrative links and footnotes and this was published by Agee Publishers in 1983 as My World War II: The Home Letters of George O. Marshall, Jr.
Upon his return to The States he came back to Athens once again before going to work with The Madisonian. That employment was interrupted when he was diagnosed with far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis contracted in Europe. He spent the next 39 months in Veterans Administration hospitals not knowing whether he would ever be dismissed as bed rest was the only available treatment. He always spoke of ""Beating the Bug"" as his greatest accomplishment, and during his final brief illness he spoke with gratitude of his very long life and the many things he had been allowed to do.
After earning his Master's degree in English from the University of Georgia he went to Austin where he earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas in 1955. He loved the Longhorns – right behind the Bulldogs. He immediately returned to Athens to join the faculty of the English Department, where he remained until his retirement in 1987. Offers from other institutions were appreciated but nothing could dislodge him from the University of Georgia and Athens. Its best interests were his interests. He was active on University System committees and in the Association of University Professors, serving as state president of the latter and on the National Council. Through this work he became very knowledgeable about faculty benefits, leading to his appointment by the Board of Regents to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia – the only appointee of the Regents on that board. He served for 15 years and was the chairman for the last ten years, instituting many new policies and procedures. He was still being thanked by his colleagues for his contributions to the soundness of that large fund.
In 1956 he married Marion West of Athens and through her family became involved in preserving the history of Athens. Marion died in 1964. He and Charlotte Thomas met in 1966, at which time he was president of the Athens Historical Society and he immediately signed her up. They were married in Donalsonville in 1967.
Following his retirement he helped with the publication of an edition of the Civil War letters of his great-grandfather, Captain Shepherd Green Pryor. Later, he and Charlotte helped with seeing several books through the press, including the history of his battalion, and his uncle's book, A Pryor Family Narrative. He published the reminiscences of growing up in Americus in The Sunshine of My Happy Youth in 1998. More recently he proofread Charlotte's first volume of Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, and urged her to finish the other two volumes while he could be in the Acknowledgements, rather than just in the index. He will be in both. He was presently helping edit The Tangible Past of Athens, Georgia.
Survivors include his wife Charlotte Thomas Marshall; his sisters, Sue Marshall Smith of Athens and Ruth Marshall Thomas and her husband Russell of Sarasota, FL; sisters-in-law Mary Anne Thomas Thurman and her husband Howdy of Fort Valley, Betty Jane Coleman Spooner and her husband Billy of Donalsonville, and Lucy Bush Thomas of Donalsonville. He is also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews of three generations and of cousins of extended degrees. He was preceded in death by his sisters Louise Marshall Cosgrove, Marianne Marshall Flaherty and Wilma Marshall Martin.
His funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church where he was a longstanding member, having begun attending during his student days when "Brother Jim" Wilkinson was pastor. The Reverend Paul Baxley, the minister, will officiate and the Reverend Jon Appleton, Pastor Emeritus, has been asked to pray. Gary L. Doster and Milton Leathers will deliver eulogies. Mark Maxwell, classical guitarist, will present a medley of songs chosen by Dr. Marshall to tell the story of his life, and Charles Hooper will sing "How Great Thou Art". A luncheon in the church fellowship hall will follow the service and burial in Oconee Hill Cemetery will take place at 2 p.m.
Palbearers will be Mark Warren, Ludwig Uhlig, Charles Whittemore, Pete McCommons, Ken Storey and Jim Smith.
Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Athens Banner-Herald on September 7, 2012
Dr. George Octavius Marshall, Jr., Professor Emeritus of English of the University of Georgia and longtime Chairman of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia died Wednesday, September 5, age 90.
Born in Americus on February 27, 1922, he was the son of the late Martha Pryor and George Octavius Marshall. He was a graduate of Americus High School and Georgia Southwestern College.
In 1941 he transferred to the University of Georgia and immediately fell in love with the school and the town where he would eventually invest his life. Because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's entry into World War II, he had to accelerate his studies in order to graduate before entering the Army. Despite the abbreviated time, he managed to be actively engaged in campus activities. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Demosthenian, Gridiron and Blue Key as well as writing a column, ""By George,"" for the Red and Black. He graduated in December 1942 with an ABJ and reported for duty after attending Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall's inauguration ceremony in January 1943.
Marshall served as a Supply Sergeant with the 456 AAA (AW) Battalion during World War II. The battalion was assigned to Patton and the Third Army after his arrival in Europe and often guarded Lucky Forward, Patton's Headquarters. Marshall was awarded the Bronze Star. He edited his letters home adding narrative links and footnotes and this was published by Agee Publishers in 1983 as My World War II: The Home Letters of George O. Marshall, Jr.
Upon his return to The States he came back to Athens once again before going to work with The Madisonian. That employment was interrupted when he was diagnosed with far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis contracted in Europe. He spent the next 39 months in Veterans Administration hospitals not knowing whether he would ever be dismissed as bed rest was the only available treatment. He always spoke of ""Beating the Bug"" as his greatest accomplishment, and during his final brief illness he spoke with gratitude of his very long life and the many things he had been allowed to do.
After earning his Master's degree in English from the University of Georgia he went to Austin where he earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas in 1955. He loved the Longhorns – right behind the Bulldogs. He immediately returned to Athens to join the faculty of the English Department, where he remained until his retirement in 1987. Offers from other institutions were appreciated but nothing could dislodge him from the University of Georgia and Athens. Its best interests were his interests. He was active on University System committees and in the Association of University Professors, serving as state president of the latter and on the National Council. Through this work he became very knowledgeable about faculty benefits, leading to his appointment by the Board of Regents to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia – the only appointee of the Regents on that board. He served for 15 years and was the chairman for the last ten years, instituting many new policies and procedures. He was still being thanked by his colleagues for his contributions to the soundness of that large fund.
In 1956 he married Marion West of Athens and through her family became involved in preserving the history of Athens. Marion died in 1964. He and Charlotte Thomas met in 1966, at which time he was president of the Athens Historical Society and he immediately signed her up. They were married in Donalsonville in 1967.
Following his retirement he helped with the publication of an edition of the Civil War letters of his great-grandfather, Captain Shepherd Green Pryor. Later, he and Charlotte helped with seeing several books through the press, including the history of his battalion, and his uncle's book, A Pryor Family Narrative. He published the reminiscences of growing up in Americus in The Sunshine of My Happy Youth in 1998. More recently he proofread Charlotte's first volume of Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, and urged her to finish the other two volumes while he could be in the Acknowledgements, rather than just in the index. He will be in both. He was presently helping edit The Tangible Past of Athens, Georgia.
Survivors include his wife Charlotte Thomas Marshall; his sisters, Sue Marshall Smith of Athens and Ruth Marshall Thomas and her husband Russell of Sarasota, FL; sisters-in-law Mary Anne Thomas Thurman and her husband Howdy of Fort Valley, Betty Jane Coleman Spooner and her husband Billy of Donalsonville, and Lucy Bush Thomas of Donalsonville. He is also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews of three generations and of cousins of extended degrees. He was preceded in death by his sisters Louise Marshall Cosgrove, Marianne Marshall Flaherty and Wilma Marshall Martin.
His funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church where he was a longstanding member, having begun attending during his student days when "Brother Jim" Wilkinson was pastor. The Reverend Paul Baxley, the minister, will officiate and the Reverend Jon Appleton, Pastor Emeritus, has been asked to pray. Gary L. Doster and Milton Leathers will deliver eulogies. Mark Maxwell, classical guitarist, will present a medley of songs chosen by Dr. Marshall to tell the story of his life, and Charles Hooper will sing "How Great Thou Art". A luncheon in the church fellowship hall will follow the service and burial in Oconee Hill Cemetery will take place at 2 p.m.
Palbearers will be Mark Warren, Ludwig Uhlig, Charles Whittemore, Pete McCommons, Ken Storey and Jim Smith.
Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Athens Banner-Herald on September 7, 2012
Born in Americus on February 27, 1922, he was the son of the late Martha Pryor and George Octavius Marshall. He was a graduate of Americus High School and Georgia Southwestern College.
In 1941 he transferred to the University of Georgia and immediately fell in love with the school and the town where he would eventually invest his life. Because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's entry into World War II, he had to accelerate his studies in order to graduate before entering the Army. Despite the abbreviated time, he managed to be actively engaged in campus activities. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Demosthenian, Gridiron and Blue Key as well as writing a column, ""By George,"" for the Red and Black. He graduated in December 1942 with an ABJ and reported for duty after attending Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall's inauguration ceremony in January 1943.
Marshall served as a Supply Sergeant with the 456 AAA (AW) Battalion during World War II. The battalion was assigned to Patton and the Third Army after his arrival in Europe and often guarded Lucky Forward, Patton's Headquarters. Marshall was awarded the Bronze Star. He edited his letters home adding narrative links and footnotes and this was published by Agee Publishers in 1983 as My World War II: The Home Letters of George O. Marshall, Jr.
Upon his return to The States he came back to Athens once again before going to work with The Madisonian. That employment was interrupted when he was diagnosed with far-advanced pulmonary tuberculosis contracted in Europe. He spent the next 39 months in Veterans Administration hospitals not knowing whether he would ever be dismissed as bed rest was the only available treatment. He always spoke of ""Beating the Bug"" as his greatest accomplishment, and during his final brief illness he spoke with gratitude of his very long life and the many things he had been allowed to do.
After earning his Master's degree in English from the University of Georgia he went to Austin where he earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Texas in 1955. He loved the Longhorns – right behind the Bulldogs. He immediately returned to Athens to join the faculty of the English Department, where he remained until his retirement in 1987. Offers from other institutions were appreciated but nothing could dislodge him from the University of Georgia and Athens. Its best interests were his interests. He was active on University System committees and in the Association of University Professors, serving as state president of the latter and on the National Council. Through this work he became very knowledgeable about faculty benefits, leading to his appointment by the Board of Regents to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia – the only appointee of the Regents on that board. He served for 15 years and was the chairman for the last ten years, instituting many new policies and procedures. He was still being thanked by his colleagues for his contributions to the soundness of that large fund.
In 1956 he married Marion West of Athens and through her family became involved in preserving the history of Athens. Marion died in 1964. He and Charlotte Thomas met in 1966, at which time he was president of the Athens Historical Society and he immediately signed her up. They were married in Donalsonville in 1967.
Following his retirement he helped with the publication of an edition of the Civil War letters of his great-grandfather, Captain Shepherd Green Pryor. Later, he and Charlotte helped with seeing several books through the press, including the history of his battalion, and his uncle's book, A Pryor Family Narrative. He published the reminiscences of growing up in Americus in The Sunshine of My Happy Youth in 1998. More recently he proofread Charlotte's first volume of Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, and urged her to finish the other two volumes while he could be in the Acknowledgements, rather than just in the index. He will be in both. He was presently helping edit The Tangible Past of Athens, Georgia.
Survivors include his wife Charlotte Thomas Marshall; his sisters, Sue Marshall Smith of Athens and Ruth Marshall Thomas and her husband Russell of Sarasota, FL; sisters-in-law Mary Anne Thomas Thurman and her husband Howdy of Fort Valley, Betty Jane Coleman Spooner and her husband Billy of Donalsonville, and Lucy Bush Thomas of Donalsonville. He is also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews of three generations and of cousins of extended degrees. He was preceded in death by his sisters Louise Marshall Cosgrove, Marianne Marshall Flaherty and Wilma Marshall Martin.
His funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church where he was a longstanding member, having begun attending during his student days when "Brother Jim" Wilkinson was pastor. The Reverend Paul Baxley, the minister, will officiate and the Reverend Jon Appleton, Pastor Emeritus, has been asked to pray. Gary L. Doster and Milton Leathers will deliver eulogies. Mark Maxwell, classical guitarist, will present a medley of songs chosen by Dr. Marshall to tell the story of his life, and Charles Hooper will sing "How Great Thou Art". A luncheon in the church fellowship hall will follow the service and burial in Oconee Hill Cemetery will take place at 2 p.m.
Palbearers will be Mark Warren, Ludwig Uhlig, Charles Whittemore, Pete McCommons, Ken Storey and Jim Smith.
Bridges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Athens Banner-Herald on September 7, 2012
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