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Honoring a true leader

Posted on April 23, 2009April 23, 2009 by Staff

Editor’s note: Following is a mayor’s proclamation in honor of Shirley Marshall read at Tuesday’s Carrboro Board of Aldermaen meeting:

WHEREAS, Shirley E. Marshall was born on April 27,1925 in Hempstead, New York; and WHEREAS, guided by a deep inner core of strength, when faced with the inconceivable tragedy of losing both her husband and daughter, she rose to meet the challenge of raising two young daughters alone; and

WHEREAS, she was the “Mother of the Modern Era” with a vision to protect the water and the environment, and update zoning and buffer zones in Orange County; and

WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill News christened her “The Grand Dame of Orange County Government”; and

WHEREAS, she had a vision for a broader plan of what Orange County could be if Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough worked together; and
WHEREAS, she embraced different opinions and recognized the value of engaging in conversations for the welfare of the county; and

WHEREAS, in the midst of the battle to redo the land plan for Orange County, she held informal get-togethers at her house to find common ground and ideas that were best for the county; and

WHEREAS, for many decades, her tireless dedication to the advancement and well-being of the citizens of Orange County has earned her respect – both personally and professionally; and

WHEREAS, she has been a mentor, teacher and inspiration to many public servants and is often called upon by younger and older politicians alike for her wisdom; and

WHEREAS, she is admired and beloved by friends, family, colleagues, and countless citizens of all generations in the Orange County community; and
WHEREAS, she worked hard to ensure that social services could serve the entire county; and

WHEREAS, she was a founding member of OWASA; and

WHEREAS, she was elected to the Board of County Commissioners in November 1982 and November 1986 and was elected by her fellow Commissioners as Chair of that Board in December of 1986 and December of 1981 and served in that position until October 1988; and

WHEREAS, for many decades, Shirley E. Marshall has faithfully served on numerous county and state committees and councils, including the Orange County Board of Commissioners, Chapel Hill Town Council, Council on Aging, Board of Social Services, Triangle J Council of Governments, Board of Health, Public Transportation Authority, Transportation Board, Human Services Advisory Commission, and The EMS Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, she served on the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and her wisdom and experience as both county commissioner and town council member were great assets, as well as her ability to speak frankly, and not politically, about things on the agenda; and

WHEREAS, she has always been an insightful, energetic, impartial, sincere, committed, inspiring, dedicated, empathetic, vibrant, open-minded, visionary, advocate, and leader.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that I, Mark Chilton, the Mayor of the Town of Carrboro, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 27, 2009 as “Shirley E. Marshall Day” in the Town of Carrboro and thank Shirley E. Marshall for her faithful service and dedication to the welfare and safety of our community.

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