Robert L. Marchman III

FORT VALLEY - Robert L.Marchman, 86, died Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Oaks Nursing Home in Marshallville. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at Fort Valley United Methodist Church with Rev. Ellis Carpenter officiating. Family will greet friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery.
Born in Fort Valley on January 10,1925 to the late Robert Lee Marchman Jr. and Lois Gregory Anderson Marchman, Mr. Marchman was Valedictorian of the Class of 1942 at Fort Valley High School. He then attended Riverside Military School before enlisting in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre as executive officer of a PT boat. He attended Emory University, earned his degree in Philosophy and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He was a graduate of Harvard Law School, admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1950 and began his career at Hansell & Post in Atlanta. He was president of the Atlanta Jaycees, served on the board of directors of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, president of the Harvard Club of Atlanta and national director of the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. In his involvement with Sigma Nu he was a dedicated advocate for the character development of young men in leadership positions. He was a founder, director, and president of the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. His many Sigma Nu positions at the university level include trustee and chapter advisor for the Emory chapter. On a national level, his service included Vice Regent, Regent (Sigma Nu's highest leadership post), and Trustee. He received Sigma Nu's highest honor, the Hall of Honor Award. He served as Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Schenck School in Atlanta, which is dedicated to helping children with learning disabilities. He was a third generation peach and pecan farmer in Crawford and Peach Counties, and a fourth generation member of Fort Valley United Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Arnold Marchman.
Survivors include his children, Robert Lee and Susan Marchman IV of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Franklin C.T. and Beth Marchman of Sharpsburg, Holmes B. and Mary Marchman of Gainesville and Granger H. Marchman and Alison Bearman of Atlanta; grandchildren, Robert L."Bo"Marchman V, Jacob Anderson Marchman, Samuel Stone Marchman, Benjamin and Ashley Marchman, Alden Candler and Kristina Marchman, Maybeth Graham Marchman, Anna Roswell Marchman, Sarah Anderson Marchman and Thomas Baker Marchman; cousins, Dr. Lois Taylor Ellison of Augusta and Laura Taylor Nowak of Bennington, Vermont; daughters of his aunt, Annie Maude Taylor of Fort Valley, and former wife and mother of his sons, Helen Thomas Marchman of Newnan, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 1869, Lexington, VA. 24450, foundation@sigmanu.org">foundation@sigmanu.org">foundation@sigmanu.org">foundation@sigmanu.org, Ph: 540-463-1030.
Rooks Funeral Home in Fort Valley is in charge of arrangements.