“Everyone needs a mentor or coach” says Ronald Marsh, an educator at Roanoke City’s Lucy Addison Middle School. One of his early mentors was a elementary teacher who helped shape his future endeavors.
Marsh, a native Roanoke, was born Oct. 3, 1951, to Percy and Florine Marsh. His father was part Cherokee, and his mother’s family resided in Franklin County in the same community where Booker T. Washington was once a slave. Marsh says Booker T. Washington would impact his life, a perspective he will share later in the story. Marsh, one of three children, is known by family and friends as “Daggie.” He says the nickname was bestowed upon him because “When I would get money as a little boy, I would dig a hole in the backyard and bury the money there.”
Marsh endured segregation and shares that his early education was riddled with a bit of turmoil. For a couple years he attended Harrison Elementary School in Northwest Roanoke even though he lived in Southwest. Marsh says neighborhood divisiveness – southwest versus northwest – sometimes led to fights. Therefore, when he was able to attend school in his neighborhood, Hurt Park Elementary, he became quite excited. It was at Hurt Park that Marsh fifth-grade teacher. Sparrow, Marsh says, was his first real male mentor and he changed his life forever. Marsh reminisces about a trip Sparrow took to Booker T. Washington Junior High School that involved him and four other Hurt Park fifth graders. The trip down the road involved basketball. Marsh and his four comrades played their first real basketball game against boys twice their size and older. Marsh says the score was 40-1 in favor of Booker T. When they boys returned to Hurt Park, Sparrow encouraged them to take the loss in stride, but always strive to be the best at whatever comes their way.
It was those words, the encouragement that exuded from Sparrow, that would bolster Marsh. He would attend Monroe Junior High School the following year. He and his teammates, including George “Killa” Miller and Millard Bolden, would defeat Booker T. Washington Junior High School. Monroe was a feeder school to then Lucy Addison High School, but Marsh was recruited by Jefferson High School. It was at Jefferson that he would make a lasting impact in Roanoke’s sports history. During the late 1960s Lucy Addison was the high school most black students wanted to attend. With integration, many African Americans were bused to white schools in Roanoke. Many went to William Fleming or Patrick Henry High Schools. Marsh settled in at Jefferson, where he excelled in sports. In 1969 Jefferson High School was state runner up in basketball. In 1970 he would be among a group of black basketball players at a predominately white school that would win the state championship. Marsh was recruited by Ferrum College in Franklin County and Hill College in Hillsboro, TX. He accepted the scholarship to attend Hill College and while there would win the National Junior College Championship. He then moved to the University of Texas Arlington for two years and would be named an All American in basketball. Marsh aspired to be drafted by the Houston Rockets, but that dream did not materialize. It was then the most meaningful part of his life would begin. He became a father to daughter, Tiffany. His love for his daughter exudes from his spirit as he talks about her. In 1991 Marsh says he felt something his in spirit telling him to start his ministry – Shelemiah Evangelic Covenant Ministries International. Marsh pauses to give some context to this decision. He credits Coach Dick Kepley with instilling this desire within him. In 1968 while attending Jefferson High School, Kepley sent Marsh to a Christian Athlete Camp in North Carolina. Marsh says when he returned to school, Kepley shared that camp officials had called him and asked him to note send Ronald Marsh back to the camp. The following year Kepley sent a teary-eyed Marsh back to the North Carolina camp. During his second trip, Marsh says he found his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He also found his life’s calling, Marsh says.
He would return to Roanoke in 1993 and would begin his coaching career at Cave Spring Middle in Roanoke County. He also has coached Virginia Western Community College. Marsh says the departed Noel C. Taylor, Roanoke’s first black mayor and former pastor of High Street Baptist Church, remains the strongest influence in his ministry. Marsh says Noel Taylor “ was such a historical figure and an even better preacher and teacher.” Marsh stayed under the leadership of Taylor until Taylor’s death in 1999.
In 2000, Marsh married Thelma Butcher. “Marrying her has really made a lasting positive impact on my life,” he says. In 2011 Marsh earned his bachelor’s degree from Bluefield College and is currently enrolled in a master’s program in the field of education.
When asked what piece of advice he would like to impart, Marsh immediately pulled out Booker T. Washington’s book, “Up from Slavery.” Marsh says “Booker T. is the greatest mentor we all can learn from. His life story and what he overcame and then what he built should inspire us all.” If we could all be a mentor or a coach to people we meet imagine what the world would look like, he says.
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