Event promotes community literacy

Published 12:03 am Friday, January 31, 2020

In recognition of the late Willisa H. Marsh’s birthday this year, her family is sponsoring the seventh annual “Encouraging Literacy Through the Community” event on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m. at the Mack Gaston Community Center. Each child who attends will receive free books.

She was born in Dalton, the daughter of Hubert and Minnie Marsh and the sister of H. Andrew Marsh, Jr., with one niece, Andrea Electa Marsh. She was an honor graduate of Dalton High School in 1996 and a graduate of Berry College in 2000 with a bachelors degree in early childhood education. Teaching was her passion, teaching many lessons both in and out of the classroom, her family said.

“Her love for children and reading showed throughout her life,” her family said. “Having many children visit with her in her home on various occasions, many were tutored by her and others were mentored by her. Willisa loved books, and some of her collection of children’s books are on display at The Emery Center where the children’s library is named in her honor. Willisa’s favorite quote was ‘To teach is to touch lives forever,’ and that she did.”