The annual award honors Clark County fathers young, older and posthumously and has been presented as part of the annual Juneteenth and Father Fest event annually. However, due to the pandemic, this year’s event was canceled. But the award wasn’t.
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The aim of the awards is to recognize the significant role fathers play in their children’s well-being and development and to raise awareness of the value of fathers in the family and the community.
Gail remembers meeting Marshall Sr. Married 43 years, they met in June and were married in July.
“He was a hard worker,” she said. “He wasn’t trying to be cool like all the other guys. I had a drain in the basement that was clogged and he got a roto-rooter and went down there and got dirty and did the job. I had never met someone like that.
“He was inspiring to me, and also inspired my family,” she continued. “He had an influence on all my immediate family.”
Marshall Jr. is a pastor in South Africa and daughter Christian is a teacher with an administrator’s certificate in Texas. Both graduated from prestigious Hampton University in Virginia. Gail feels Marshall Sr.’s iron-fist approach to parenting helped them be so successful.
“He was a very strict father,” she said. “His father was a bishop in New York and New Jersey. They believed that you bring a child up the way he should go and when he is older, he won’t depart. It paid off.
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“Marshall Jr. preached his eulogy and everybody thought it was fantastic,” she continued. “He realized he (Marshall Sr.) was doing what he knew to do, and in the long run, it paid off. Even though you might be going through something that is heavy, it is for your good. You have to learn how to forgive and move on.”
A successful candidate for the fatherhood award should be of excellent character, and free of compromising issues like drug or alcohol, child abuse or any other issue that would compromise the reputation of the award.
Deadline to submit a nomination is May 29 at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced on social media and To submit a nomination, go to urbanlight.org. For questions, email ewilliams@urbanlight.org.
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