Geneva Marks

As we retrace the footprints of Geneva Ester Marks we can only give thanks for the many lives she touched and enriched along life’s journey. A bold and self confident woman, she was blessed to enjoy many of God’s blessings as a child, a sister, a mother, grandmother and a friend. Geneva Ester Marks began her journey of life on April 18, 1926 at Richwood, Arkansas as the daughter of Oscar and Luela Hughes Marks. She accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at a young age. Though often shy, Geneva grew up to be a loving, kind and intelligent young woman. She was a homemaker and member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She was a part of that generation that counted motherhood as a virtue because mothers knew the difference between a house and home. So her golden accomplishment in life was to make a loving home that would produce a tapestry of memories her family would forever cherish. She was that warm hand on a cold morning; that voice of wisdom and reason when the world was upside-down; that vessel of hope that carried loved ones and friends safely across rivers of change in their lives and that prayerful servant who blessed the Lord at all times. In her 83rd season of life Geneva received her blessing of immortality on Friday December 18, 2009. She was welcomed home by her parents, and several siblings. Because love is far greater than death Geneva departs this earth in body only. Her gentle smile and infectious laugh lives on in the memories, minds and hearts of her children: Rasheedah Abdullah of Milwaukee, WI, Dorah Johnson of Gurdon, AR, Patricia Barnes of Gurdon, AR, Harold Marks of Atlanta, GA; one sister, Jerline Williams of Atlanta, GA, two brothers, Oscar (Dorothy) Marks of Mt. Clemmons, MI, and Joe Louis Marks of Mt. Clemmons, MI; sixteen grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She also leaves in love four aunts, Betty A. Hughes, Dorothy Alexander, Willie Mae Holt, Cleo Hughes; one uncle, Daniel Hughes; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends. The last farewell and final tributes to her life will be shared with family and friends on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church where Rev. Johnny Harris is the pastor and will preach the message. Ms. Marks will lie in state on Monday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The committal service and final resting place will be in Union Grove Cemetery in Bluff City, Arkansas.