Celestine Marsh died October 28, 2007 at Baptist South Medical Center in Montgomery. Funeral services were held at noon Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007 at Union Missionary Baptist Church, County Rd. 62, Honoraville, with the Rev. L.C. Lewis, church pastor, officiating and Hudson Funeral Home of Greenville directing.

Interment followed at the church cemetery with Hudson Funeral Home directing.

Known to many as &uot;Mother Marsh,&uot; she was born August 23, 1923 to the late Hattie Marsh Keith and the late William Riley in Birmingham.

Mother Marsh was united in marriage to Prince &uot;Tut&uot; Marsh on February 12, 1938. To this union five children were born: Hattie, Gracie, Earlie, Jessie and Rufus.

Confessing Christ at an early age, she joined Union Missionary Baptist Church where she served faithfully.

Mother Marsh accepted God’s call to salvation at the Holy Tabernacle Non-Denominational Church in Honoraville, founded by her son Jessie. After Jessie’s death Mother Marsh became pastor of the church where she served faithfully. She was a lively stone in the services of the Lord. She did not like a lifeless service and her favorite saying was, &uot;God is not dead, He is alive!&uot;

Mother Marsh is survived by: her husband, Prince &uot;Tut&uot; Marsh, who stood by her during her illness; three children, Gracie Kelley of Greenville, Earlie (Evon) of Millbrook, Hattie Mavie Page of Detroit, Michigan; one stepdaughter, Rosetta Marsh of Greenville; a foster family she loved dearly, 37 grandchildren, 99 great-grandchildren and 61 great-great-great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Charla Marsh of Greenville; a devoted future son-in-law, James Earl Chambers; a special nephew, Jimmie Lee (Johnnie) Riley of Birmingham; a cousin whom she loved like a sister, Lue Nell Peterson of Honoraville; a devoted friend, Addie Steele and a loving church family whom she cherished along with a host of relatives and friends.