Joseph Edward Marrow

The sun has risen and the sun has set on the life of Joseph Edward Marrow, Sr. Joseph Edward Marrow, Sr. was born to the late William and Rose Fields Marrow on August 1, 1925. He was born the fifth of five children and was preceded in death by each of the other four, namely, Harry, Earl, Elizabeth and Frances.Ed, as he was fondly known, was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School. He entered the United States Navy and served as an Apprentice Seaman. After his tour of duty, he was honorably discharged at Great Lakes, Illinois on November 30, 1943.He was married to the former Azzelee P. Bess in February 1954 and from this union a son, Joseph Edward Morrow, Jr., was joyously born on October 5, 1955. This union was subsequently dissolved and he later married the former Vernice Parham in September 1970.At the age of two, Ed became a member of Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church at Linden Avenue and Biddle Street. He was baptized in 1932 and was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Incorporated at Trinity AME. Later in life, he served in a number of the church’s organizations, including being a member of the Board of Trustees, a member of the Male Usher Board, the Brotherhood, and Lay Organization of the church. He was also a member of the church’s security team.Ed worked for a time with Martin Marietta, worked as a cater for a number of years and was employed by the Social Security administration of the federal government in Baltimore, Maryland, from which he retired in 1975.Ed was a fun-loving, high-spirited person. He was very opinionated and loved to debate and talk politics. In addition, he had a passion for dancing (jitterbug), enjoyed gardening, working outside in his yard, and woodwork. His display of blue lights at Christmas was the talk of the neighborhood. He was always offering to help in the church, looked forward to opening the church doors once a month and would always be there for communion.He is survived by his loving wife, Vernice Parham Marrow; his devoted son, Joseph Edward Marrow, Jr. of Ellicott City, Maryland; his attentive daughter, Sharon Marrow Green of Baltimore, Maryland; two stepsons he viewed as his own, Leon (deceased) and Ronnie Cheek of Washington, Dc: a daughter-in-law, Crystale Stevenson Marrow of Ellicott City; a son-in-law, Herman L. Green of Baltimore; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Prince and Mary Parham of Norfolk, Virginia; brother-in-law, McCoy Parham of Baltimore; and sister-in-law, Margaret labor of Warrenton, North Carolina. He was also very close to his niece, Janice Marrow Gloster and her family of McDonough, Georgia; his cousins at Trinity AME, Audrey Giddins and DiAnna Gross of Baltimore; and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Joseph Edward Marrow

August 1, 1925 - November 11, 2002