HER SERVICE TO HER COUNTRY AND HER BOROUGH WILL NEVER BE FORGETTEN
written By Editor: C. Harrison/March 24, 2017
The Honorable Helen Marie Marshall, was the borough of Queens, first black Borough President. She stood the tallest in her borough and shone the brightness. The former borough President, died March 4, 2017, at her home in Palm Deser, California, at age 87.
Born September 30, 1929, on Manhattan island, in New York City; Mrs. Marshall, was a force behind the strong Borough of Queens. This fact was stated so, by each and very person, who commented at her Celebration of Life And Legacy Memorial Service, which took place at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Borough Hall, in Queens. Helen was the second women monarch to run the borough of Queens. The first was former Borough President, the Honorable Claire Shulman and the most current the Honorable Melinda Katz.
Honorable guest notables at Mrs. Marshall’s Celebration of The Life and Legacy Memorial Service includes: The Hon. Claire Shulman , the Hon. David Dinkins, former Mayor of New York City, Hon, Charles Rangel, U.S. Congress Retired New York City, Hon. Carolyn Maloney, U. S. Representative for the 12th CD, Hon. Archie Spugner, former member , New York City Council, Hon, Scott Stringer, Comptroller, New York City, Hon. Karen Koslowitz, New York City , Council, Hon. Barry Grodenchik, New York Council.
Mrs. Marshall was inaugurated Queens Borough President, in 2001, where I met her at Terrace on the Park, a banquet hall in Flushing’s Meadow-Corona Park. A young Journalist, I was eager to meet her. When I did she never forgot me. From there, I was invited to almost all of her events, and she always acknowledges me with a hug; for which I am forever appreciative. I am grateful that I had the pleasure of meeting a woman of influence, a beacon and a champion for our causes. Helen is already missed echoed by everyone she had touched in her life..
Mrs. Marshall held a High School Diploma and holds a B.A. degree in education from Queens College. She also took graduate courses in education and public administration at Bank Street College and Long Island University. In her professional career she taught early child hood education, from which she move on in 1969, and later help founded and became the first director of the Langston Hughes Library. She was also the director of the Testing and Placement Program. Mrs. Marshall thereafter, during the 1970s became involved in politics and soon ran for and was elected district leader, then a Democratic committeewoman, and in 1982, she served in the New York State Assembly for five year. She would soon after this got elect to the New York City Council, representing the 21 District, where she also chaired on the women’s Higher Education Committee; the Black and Latino Caucus and serve as a member of the Housing and Building Environmental Protection and women’s Issues Committee.
Marshall’s tireless work with healthcare for seniors and the commitment to funding Queens many libraries and other facilities, as well as overseeing the opening of new schools in Queens, she was awarded the annual Crystal Globe Award for Excellence and leadership in education.
Her work is exemplary and will continue on with the support of those who will carry on her cause.
Mrs. Marshall and her late husband Donald Marshall raised two children Donald Jr. and Agnes Marie. She is survived by her two children, her sister, Joan, two grand-children: Chandler and Chasen, her daughter-in-law Chalena and several nieces and nephews.
