Marion James

LIFE STORY

When you hear of my home going, don’t worry about me, for

I’m just another soldier gone on home - MJ

Marion James, the eldest of 5 children was born to Evelyn Snell on March 2, 1940.  She preceded him in death.

Upon relocating from South Carolina, he came to Philadelphia as a child attending the Paxson Elementary School, Stoddard Fleischer Junior High School and graduated from Ben Franklin High School.

Marion, from an early age, loved the Lord, and attended the Ebenezer Baptist Church and then became a founding member of the Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church, here he would become a Trustee extraordinaire, serving as Chairman, previous Men's day Chairman, and sang on the choir. He loved his duties and remained faithful to the end. He rarely missed a Sunday.

Because of his love for music, it would take him down the road as a young man, to begin his career as a Radio Announcer. He was mentored by the Late Mary Dee Dudley in 1958 on WHAT radio station 1340AM. Marion joined the Radio station WTMR’s family (Where the Master Reigns) in Camden, New Jersey in 1990.  For more than 50 years he spun the turntables.  He loved sharing with the audience which reached Philadelphia and surrounding areas, old time gospel and inspirational music. His Moto “Music with a message and understanding.  He retired from WTMR in 2016.

Marion had a love for an aggregation of singers, known as the Victory Choral Ensemble .He was a loyal and devoted member, He served as President, Vice President, Business Manager, Treasurer and Financial Secretary.  In 1958, he attended a meeting where the younger ones wanted to separate from the Victory Choral Union and form their own group which is now known as the Victory Choral Ensemble, Marion would be known as the member who was there from inception and never left.

In his lifetime of 80 years, he did much - Having been a Chauffeur for a Gospel group the Imperials, worked at OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center) for many years, WHAT, WTMR, and his last place of employment-Welfare Rights, Inc. where he spent 16 years. He was well respected, kind and courteous to his fellow co-workers, and will be missed.

In 2007, Marion was inducted into the Philadelphia Gospel Music Association for his dedication and commitment to the gospel world.

On February 24, 2006 he was united in matrimony to his lovely wife Joyce Taylor. He, being a soft spoken and meticulous dresser that caught her eye and Joyce the not soft spoken one, caught his eye, but it's always said that opposites attract, and it could not be any more true.  The past 13 years were full of happiness, and love.

He leaves to mourn their loss and cherish the memories; his loving wife Joyce, his daughter Sheila, Sister Evonne Wilson, Brother Mitchell preceded him in death, two brothers

James (June) Snell and  Eric Snell, 6 sister in-laws- Nora Fisher, Gloria Warren (Aaron), Pamela Taylor, Faith Bellamy (Miles), Lynette Taylor, Gerri Pettiford, three brother in laws- Ronald Washington, Roger Taylor Sr. and Derrick Taylor, a host of nieces and nephews, his special Lil buddy (nephew) Waseem Jones, His God Children: Chante Crawley, Vanessa Harley and Sonia Brookins. Special lifelong friends who were more like family: Walter Stewart, Edith Brooks, James (Buck) Harris, Marian Reese, Mary Greene  and his Victory Choral Ensemble family  .