Mr. William Marshall Carson Sr.

January 28, 1947 — March 5, 2025 Beloved father, grandfather, brother, friend, and mentor William Marshall Carson, Sr. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 5 after a brief illness. Known as “Marshall” to family and childhood friends, and “Bill” to his vast network of friends and professional colleagues, he is survived by his proud son, William Jr., and daughter-in-law Amy Drummond and their children Emily and Martin Luepker, and William, Christopher, and Samuel Carson; his siblings Thomas B. Carson, Alvin Carson, Marie I. “Ann” Waters, Mary L. Carson, T. Lynn Brinson, and Michael K. Carson; his dear friends Col (Ret.) Carolyn Jones and Wanda Smith; dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and countless adoring friends, former students, and professional colleagues. He was preceded in passing by his sister Barbara E. Payne and brother Calvin Carson. He was born to George and Laura E. (Parks) Carson on January 28, 1947, and spent his childhood in the western North Carolina town of Tryon where he graduated with the first integrated class of Edmund Embury High School. The first of his family to attend college, he earned a B.A. in Physical and Health Education at Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, NC and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the track and cheerleading teams, and other student activities. At St. Aug, he met his former wife of nine years, Elizabeth (Washington), and they married in 1968 before he was drafted to serve in the decorated 1st Calvary Division of the United States Army. After Training at Fort Bragg, NC and Fort Benning, GA he was deployed to one tour of duty in Vietnam. While on active duty, they welcomed their son, William. Upon returning from Vietnam and a short stint at Ft. Riley, KS he returned to Raleigh to earn an M.A. in Counseling at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) while helping to support his young family through various part-time jobs on campus and in the Raleigh community before joining the NCCU counseling staff. Post-Vietnam, he continued his military service as a member of the 2059th U.S. Army Reserve Forces (USARRF). He remained in the USARF for 27 years, rising to his retirement rank of Master Sergeant (E-8) and Chief Instructor of the 2059th USARF School. Throughout his military career, he earned numerous awards, decorations, and commendations, including the honor of USARF Non Commissioned Officer of the Year. He was an aficionado of U.S. Army history, especially revering the triumphs and sacrifices of the U.S. Army’s 10th Cavalry “Buffalo Soldiers” and other Black men and women who served our country. In 1975, he joined the staff of College Placement Services in Bethlehem, PA where he was Assistant Director of Corporate and College Relations. He remained at CPS until moving to Baltimore in 1982 to join the administration of Morgan State University as Director of Career Development. He also served as Assistant Vice President for College Student Services, before returning to the job he loved: leading the Center for Career Development until his retirement in 2014. He lived by—and frequently shared—the motto, “Find the job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” At Morgan, he revolutionized the Career Development Office, providing technology, professional, and staff enhancements to support student success and building deep corporate and graduate school relationships on behalf of Morgan students. His commitment to providing excellent service to—and insistence on receiving excellent preparation from—his students made him legendary to an entire generation of Morgan students who left the University ready to pursue advanced degrees and corporate and professional careers. A true shutterbug, Bill was never without a camera in his hand and was often court- and field-side taking photos and cheering at Morgan athletic teams, graduations, and other events. His portfolio of weddings, family reunions, and festivities is second-to-none, eclipsed only by his portfolio of landscapes, and botanicals. He was a formidable bowler and avid bicyclist; loved the outdoors; had a keen sense of humor; and loved Jazz and Blues music. He grew copious amounts of produce during annual growing seasons in his own backyard and the Community Garden that he helped to build and grow, providing a steady supply of fruits and vegetables to neighbors and friends. He frequently enjoyed Maryland’s bounty of crabs, rockfish, and other quality seafood, and especially cherished cross-country road trips in two Volkswagen Beetles and three Subarus, including a bright orange Crosstrek with personalized CAREERS license plates. He was a former Cub Scout leader, an active member of the Greater Baltimore Urban League Guild, a longstanding Build and ReStore volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and a decades-long platelet donor to the Red Cross Blood Center. He emulated the steadfast determination of his favorite animal, the Rhino, and he will be remembered for his joyful enthusiasm and willingness to go above-and-beyond to assist and inspire students, friends, and neighbors in any way necessary. A Celebration of Life Ceremony is tentatively planned for May 10, 2025 on the campus of Morgan State University, and he will be honored with a military tribute and laid to rest at Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA, where he undertook many of his Army Reserve training exercises. Contributions in his memory may be made to Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity or the Greater Baltimore Urban League Guild.

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Mr. William Marshall Carson Sr.

January 28, 1947 - March 5, 2025