Barbara Thompson Stevenson Marshall

Trailblazer • Actress • Director • Producer •Teacher • Wife • Mother • Grandmother • Auntie • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Soror • Activist • Phenomenal Woman
Mrs. Barbara Thompson Stevenson Marshall passed away peacefully in her home in Manvel, Texas, after a lengthy illness. Barbara is a native Houstonian, born the fifth child of Henry Ray Thompson, and Beatrice Thompson on August 24, 1933. Originally named Barbara Gloria in the hospital, but after coming home, Barbara's father renamed her Barbara O'Cele Thompson. Her parents passed away at an early age due to Tuberculosis. After their death, Barbara and some of her siblings went into foster care but were blessed to stay in touch and remarkably close during her lifetime.
While in foster care, Mrs. Mollie Taylor Stevenson Sr., a local ranch owner in Pierce Junction, Texas, on the outskirts of Houston, needed someone to tutor and assist with her five young children. Little did Barbara know the profound effect moving to Pierce Junction would have on her life. Mollie and Ben Stevenson fell in love with Barbara and her caring spirit. She became a member of the Stevenson family and what would be known as the "six-pack," who called her Bobbie, Dedda Bell by Mollie Jr. and Sandra, and "Uncle" Buba by her nieces and nephews because they could not pronounce "Auntie Barbara."
Barbara came to know the Lord at an early age. As an adult, she always went to church to fill her spiritual bucket, even if that meant moving around to different churches. She considered herself non-denominational because it did not matter if the church was Lutheran, Pentecostal, Catholic, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, or Jehovah's Witness. The only thing that mattered to Barbara was PRAISING THE LORD!This love of the Lord would sustain her until death.
Barbara is a product of the Houston Independent School District's Bruce Elementary and Wheatley High School, where she excelled in drama classes and competitions. Barbara always had a flare for drama as a young woman. Her passion continued throughout Barbara's college years, where she majored in Speech and Drama at The Texas State University for Negroes (now known as Texas Southern University). Remarkably,Barbara, a child prodigy, started college at age 16. In her Junior year at Texas Southern University, Barbara competed against contestants from all cotton-growing states in the "Spirit of Cotton" contest held in Memphis, Tennessee, and won "Miss Spirit of Cotton" in 1952. She was given a complete cotton wardrobe for her nationwide speaking tour to various cities in the United States.
After graduating from Texas Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Drama, Barbara continued her education and earned a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she was among some of the first African Americans accepted into the university. After graduating from Northwestern University, Barbara relocated to Houston, Texas.
Ms. Barbara O'Cele Thompson Stevenson first met Mr. Lawrence "Larry" Marshall, Houston Independent School District's first African American Deputy Superintendent, while they were both students at Texas Southern University. Upon her return from Northwestern University, they started a relationship, got engaged, and married on December 23, 1958. After marriage, they adopted two children: a daughter, Lauren Mollie Marshall, and a son, Lawrence Gregory Marshall (Deceased). Larry and Barbara loved their family, careers, and 65 years of marriage. As one of Houston's early "power couples," they advocated for social justice and equality and worked tirelessly for the good of humanity and their Houston community.
Shortly after returning to Houston, Barbara also applied for a job with the Houston Independent School District and became the first African American Speech Correctionist to provide services to students with stuttering issues. She also served as Director of Special Research Projects and as a Dysfluency Coordinator during her 15-year tenure. To this day, former students to whom Barbara provided services have expressed how caring and encouraging she was and how thankful they are for her,instilling in them the self-esteem they needed not to be afraid to speak and understand that they were capable of great things.
After leaving the educational setting, Barbara returned to her love for drama and communication. She worked as an Independent Contractor, Television Producer, and Director of Community Projects for Channels 8 and 2, The Urban League, KUHT/UH, and KPRC – where she produced weekly shows on issues affecting African Americans and their daily lives.
Barbara also worked as an instructor at Texas Southern University in the Upward Bound Program, Department of Speech, teaching High School (College Bridge) students communication skills. She worked at The University of Houston as an Associate Professor teaching classes in Mass Media (History and Production) from the African American perspective. In addition, she planned and coordinated field observations for Black Studies Majors. Ms. Barbara was also the Director of Communication/Instructor and Specialist in the Adult Communications and Career Training Department at the Hispanic International University Without Walls. During Barbara's tenure, she taught public speaking, persuasion, business communication, motivational speaking, and writing classes. In addition, she counseled and provided therapy to adult students with communication disorders.
A civil rights advocate, Barbara has been a staunch supporter of Houston's SHAPE Community Center, its philosophy, advocacy in the Houston community, and Co-Founder, CEO, Executive Director, Deloyd T. Parker, Jr., since its inception in 1969. Barbara strongly believed in the SHAPE pillars, the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa-Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
On September 26, 1969, Barbara and six other illustrious women chartered the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. on the University of Houston Main Campus.
In addition to her many accomplishments, in 1969, Barbara became the Founder and Artistic Director of the Urban Theatre. Her goal was to provide a space for urban playwrights, directors, technical staff, and actors to perform. Barbara directed the first production performed at the Urban Theatre, James Baldwin's Blues for Mr. Charlie.
Further expounding on her love for theatre and acting, on November 19, 1977, Barbara played the role of Lady in Red in the Houston Production of For Colored Girls at the Equinox Theater.
Miss. Spirit, Miss Barbara, Uncle Buba, Dedda Bell, Bobbie, Baba, Mama, Aunt Barbara, Friend, Sister, and Wife was a kind, loving, giving, thoughtful, passionate, fantastic, amazing, phenomenal woman with a great zeal for life and a beautiful spirit. Barbara never met a stranger. Barbara always included others in her plans (a party, a concert, church, lecture, travel, etc.) whether the other person knew it or not. When hanging out with Barbara, you knew there would never be a dull moment! You also knew you were about to learn something new, meet someone famous, and experience an amazing time! Barbara will be missed but never forgotten. Her beautiful spirit will live on in each person she connected with in her ninety years on earth.
What a LEGACY to leave behind laughter, fun, enjoying being in the moment, and just living with no REGRETS. "The best part of life is not just surviving but thriving with passion, compassion, humor, style, generosity, and kindness." Maya Angelou
Mrs. Barbara Thompson Stevenson Marshall is preceded into Eternal Life by her parents, Beatrice Thompson (birth mother), Henry Ray Thompson (birth father), Mollie Taylor Stevenson Sr., Benjamin Franklin Stevenson, siblings, Helen Marie Thompson Paul, Beatrice Juanita Thompson, Richard Thompson, Major W. Stevenson Sr., Benjamin Franklin Stevenson Jr., Julia Wyatt, Ben Taye Stevenson Choice, and son Lawrence Gregory Marshall, Sr.
Barbara leaves to cherish her memory a loving and devoted husband, Lawrence "Dooley" Marshall; her daughter, Lauren Mollie Marshall, grandchildren Lawrence Gregory Marshall, Jr., Kaiya Symone McCray, and Lawrenzo Lamark Marshall; two sisters, Sandra Stevenson Rigsby and Mollie Taylor Stevenson Jr. (Elicious Scott), sister-in-law, Dr. Beverly Dorsey Stevenson, brother-in-law Lloyd Dwain Choice, Sr., and goddaughters, godsons, nieces, nephews, former students, church members, sorors, and a host of other family and friends.
Memorial Donations
Donations in remembrance of Barbara Thompson Stevenson Marshall can be made instead of flowers to Shape Community Center online at https://shape.org. Donations are also accepted at 3815 Live Oak Street, Houston, Texas 77004, and 3903 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77004.