Rev. Samuel Preston "Sam" Marshall III

Reverend Samuel Preston Marshall III, a beloved minister, devoted husband, cherished father, and faithful friend, passed away on June 26, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford, Mississippi. He was 76 years old.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Oxford University United Methodist Church (OUUMC). Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Friends, family, and all those whose lives were touched by Sam's ministry are warmly invited to attend. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Born on March 30, 1949, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Sam was raised in a home and community that instilled in him a love for learning, service, and faith. He attended local schools in Tupelo before graduating from Arlington High School in Texas in 1967. During his high school years, he worked at Six Flags in Arlington, where his role as a bellhop at the Inn, and a memorable encounter with John Wayne, instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for hospitality and the quiet dignity of service and kindness.
Sam went on to attend Rhodes College, graduating in 1971 with a degree in psychology. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Nu, distinguishing himself both academically and socially. It was during his college years that he met and fell in love with Cecilia Miller, his beloved wife of 54 years. They were married in December, 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Answering a call to ministry, Sam pursued theological studies at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity in 1974. While working as a hospital chaplain at Louisville General, he discovered the transformative power of a compassionate presence.
Sam began his pastoral ministry at Sumner Presbyterian Church in 1977, where he and his wife Cecilia were joyfully welcomed and supported as they began their ministry and family. It was there that he and Cecilia welcomed their first daughter, Anne Preston, in February, 1980.
In 1984, Sam accepted a call to serve at First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, a congregation that quickly became an extended family to the Marshalls. It was here that their second daughter, Hallie, was born in 1985. His decades of service in the church were marked by compassionate leadership, thoughtful preaching, and an unwavering commitment to community and faith.
In the early 2000s, Sam stepped into a broader leadership role as Executive Presbyter, serving the Memphis Presbytery, Western North Carolina Presbytery, and Salem Presbytery. He was known throughout the Presbyterian Church (USA) for his wisdom, diplomacy, and unwavering commitment to unity and grace. In 2018, after decades of faithful ministry, Sam returned to Oxford with his beloved Cecilia where he enjoyed a well-earned retirement and a quieter chapter, surrounded by the people he loved, good books, fun cars, and their two loyal pets, Enzo and Larry.
Sam was known for his well-spoken wisdom, gentle spirit, and a steady sense of humor that delighted all. He had a gift for making people feel truly seen and loved. He found joy in the little things such as building Shaker furniture by hand, reading anything from theology to fiction, walking the beaches of the Gulf, and winding through mountain roads in a sports car with the top down and music playing.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cecilia Miller Marshall; his daughter, Anne Preston Marshall of Oxford; his daughter, Hallie Marshall Thomas and son-in-law Jonathan Brett Thomas, of Water Valley; and his furry companions, Enzo and Larry. Sam was preceded in death by his sister, Kathryn Arnold of Virginia, and his parents, Samuel Preston Marshall Jr. and Edna Earle Waters Marshall of Mississippi.
Sam Marshall lived a life marked by grace, humility, laughter, and love - a life that bore faithful witness to the God he served so well.
"Well done, good and faithful servant Enter into the joy of your Lord." Matthew 25:23
Memorial contributions may be made to:
• Oxford-University United Methodist Church (OUUMC)
424 South 10th Street, Oxford, Mississippi 38655
• The Pantry of Oxford and Lafayette County
Post Office Box 588, Oxford, Mississippi 38655
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude’s Place
Memphis, Tennessee 38105