Marsha Herndon

Marsha passed away at her home at the Hopkins Nursing Care Center in Woodburn, KY on February 1 after a brief decline in her health this fall. She was 69 years old. Born in Louisville KY she was a long time resident of the Bowling Green area, graduating from Bowling Green High School in 1970 and attending college at Western Kentucky University. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wynelle Johnson Beach, and Victor Tyree Beach, both educators and charter members of St. James Methodist Church in Bowling Green. Most of Marsha’s adult life was spent in the Lebanon and Lexington KY area where she meet her husband, Charlie Herndon, who also precedes her in death. She is survived by her brother, Victor J Beach, his wife Peggy F Beach, and their daughter and grandson, Charlotte and Jayden Beach Fults of Kingston Springs TN and by her daughter, Kristal Herndon of Louisville KY A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Please feel free to acknowledge your condolences by signing the guest registry, leaving any contact information where we can return you kind gesture. I think most people would say that when we are gone we want our friends and family, our community to remember how we lived our life. Marsha lived her life with Love, Kindness, Acceptance, Joy and Appreciation. Every single person, and I do mean every single person, which her brother and I have spoken to about Marsha, have all shared the same sentiment: how very much they love her. They loved Marsha because of who she was. Marsha gave freely what she could give to everyone, her gentle good heart. She did not discriminate, for she knew what discrimination felt like. Much of her life was enduring discrimination of one kind or another, but only once did I ever see her question someone’s motives or integrity. She accepted all people as her sister, her brother, her friend. She truly practiced her faith in her every day actions. She was not stingy or selfish, and whomever she was with at any given moment was the most important person in the world to her, and people felt that. Her most precious possession was a simply wooden cross on a leather cord she wore all the time. Marsha’s memory was profound. Over the years her brother and her would laugh and sometimes cry over the family stories, as would I. When we were stumped on a particular topic, we would always say: ‘we need to ask Marsha. ’ She loved music, especially the Beatles, and Neil Diamond. Those that knew her closely, knew that her trusted walker was named ‘Neil. ’ She really liked old western movies, especially ‘the Duke’, John Wayne. Elaine, her dear friend and roommate would laugh and talk and eat snacks to all hours of the night watching those old classic shows and movies. When the pandemic first created such harsh visitation restrictions Vic and I would be a part of their party by phone. That was a blessing for us all. Marsha loved the outdoors. Although her physical limitations were many, to be able to sit and be with nature, with all of its wonder, beauty and grace, that is what she loved to do: to listen and watch the birds, and the butterflies; to revel in the beauty of the flowers; to feed the ducks on the pond, those were her treasured moments. Her favorite place at her last home was on the beautiful outdoor wooden deck. Nestled in the serene country setting of ancient trees and rolling grass she would enjoy much love and laughter, peace and good food, picnics, and birthday parties with her friends, Donna and Cathy, the ‘three musketeers’; Eddie, who always held Marsha’s well-being first; Susie and Elaine and so, so many others. With sweet kind Edna, Marsha treasured being the resident liaison. Helping her fellow residents have a voice; creating a better place for them all. Being a part of the choir, playing bingo, sitting with the night nurse with a snack, all of this created a home, a family for her. Vic and I knew she was happy; she was valued; and most of all she was loved. Marsha received such dignity, respect and loving care from all the staff at Hopkins. To mention one would slight another, so we will say thank you to you all. There was no staff person that did not follow the motto on a sign in the lobby, ‘your family is our family. ’ That is how everyone treated Marsha. She was family. Marsha deeply loved her family. Kevin and Maurice, Lacy and their families. Vic, her brother, ‘Bubba’; myself and all of my sisters; Jayden, Charlotte and Adam; Margaret; Norma and Bob and especially Kristal. Marsha was a good kind person. Marsha was full of love. So instead of flowers or donations, we would like to ask, if you choose: commit to doing a loving act; a gentle gesture of kindness, to just one person, every day, even if it is but a smile, and in so doing we know that Marsha’s life will have been well lived. We will carry forward her Love, her Kindness, her Acceptance, her Joy and Appreciation and for that we will all be better for it. We will miss you, Marsha. We love you You may post your condolences on the tribute wall of this page, or on our Facebook page at www. facebook. com/conefuneralhome Please note the memorial tree links do not connect to a local arborist in Bowling Green, KY. If you wish to plant a memorial tree locally you may contact the Lost River Cave (270-393-0077 – Katie Cielinski) or the City of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation department at www. bgky. org/bgpr/cemeteries/memorial-tree or the Warren County Parks and Recreation department.