Patricia Phillips Marshall (1958-2010)

Patricia Phillips Marshall

Walnut Cove, North Carolina - Mrs. Patricia Phillips Marshall, 52, died unexpectedly at her home early Saturday morning, September 4, 2010. She was born May 26, 1958 in Canton, Ohio and spent her childhood in North Canton, Ohio. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a BA in history in 1980 and from Eastern Illinois University with a MA degree in historical administration in 1982. After spending nine years as curator and educator at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, she accepted a position as curator of decorative arts at the North Carolina Museum of History in 1992. In 2007 she was also assigned the responsibility of being curator of the North Carolina Executive Mansion. Both institutions placed considerable responsibilities on Patricia and she served each of them and the citizens of North Carolina with outstanding professionalism, expertise and personal consideration.

Thomas Day

In addition to her work with the museum and mansion, Patricia conducted 18 years of study on the life and accomplishments of the North Carolina antebellum cabinetmaker, Thomas Day. Patricia's years of research and documentation culminated in the completion of her groundbreaking biography on Day and analysis of his craftsmanship, published by UNC-Press in May 2010. Simultaneous to the book release, the North Carolina Museum of History opened a 6,000 Square foot exhibition on the life of Thomas Day, for which Patricia wrote the storyline and selected the artifacts as exhibit curator. The publication and exhibition has received outstanding reviews across the nation and will serve as Patricia's professional legacy.

While Patricia's work accomplishments and service to the people of the state will long be remembered her greatest attribution was her unconditional love. She lived her life extending support to those in need, and would set aside her own well-being serving others. Known as Patty to family and personal friends, she lived her life with an open heart and sacrificed herself continually for others, while remaining silent of her own terrible pain and suffering from an irreversible back injury. Her love for others was boundless. Patty's greatest personal gift was the unconditional love she gave to her husband, Jackson and two step-sons, Dalton and Stuart. She was the perfect soul-mate, best friend and life companion to Jackson, and a loving, attentive and encouraging mother to Dalton and Stuart. Her physical presence in their lives will be sorely missed and they will cherish loving memories of her forever.

Her creativity and talent remains in the beautiful quilts she made and in the home she has left them. A memorial service will be held at Salem Chapel Christian Church in Walnut Cove on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Stephen Webb and the Rev. Thomas Murray officiating. Internment will follow in the church cemetery. Patty is survived by her husband Jackson and step-sons, Dalton and Stuart, who she loved and cherished as her own, her dearest mother; Bernice Phillips of North Canton, Ohio who has lost her child and kindred spirit. Phillips family members include brothers; John and wife Randi of Gilbert, AZ, Mark and wife Jeanette of Akron, Ohio, Thomas and wife Elizabeth of Salisbury, NC, Richard and wife Paula of Louisville, Ohio, James and partner Lory of North Canton, Ohio and Frederick Phillips of Canton, Ohio.

She also has surviving nephews and nieces; Thomas Jr., Rachel, Heather, Lauren, Jason and Lindsey and other family across the United States. In the Marshall family, she is survived by Jackson's parents; Jack and Joanne of Walnut Cove, Eric and wife Nancy of Walnut Cove, sister; Jone and husband Michael Eaton of Alexandria, VA and Marilyn and Richard Watkins of Walnut Cove. She is also survived by nephew J. Matt Marshall and nieces; Megan Marshall and Madison Eaton and many cousins across the country. Special mention should be made to all of Patty's closest friends, collectors and colleagues, especially to the members of the 26th NCT Civil War Preservation Society, the North Carolina State University Pipes and Drums, the members of Salem Chapel Christian Church and minister and personal friend; Stephen Webb.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Samuel's Bumblebee Blessings Endowment Fund, Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc., 308 Green Street, PO Box 2345, Fayetteville, NC 28302 or to Salem Chapel Christian Church Cemetery Fund, PO Box 1085, Walnut Cove, NC 27052. Online condolences may be offered at www. burroughsfuneralhome.com. Burroughs Funeral Home of Walnut Cove, NC is serving the Marshall family.
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