Imogene Antwine Marsh

On Friday, October 3, 2025, Imogene Antwine Marsh died unexpectedly at the age of 74. On Thursday evening, like most days, she was on the phone with my sister Elisa (Lisa) as they watched their favorite shows together. A few hours later (c. 1 a.m.), after a meal, an unexpected upset stomach, shower and comforting words from Lisa, she said her good nights, told her grandson she “…will love him forever” and prepared for bed. I will miss those three-way calls Mom, Lisa and I would have, ending with expressions of love for her granddaughters…

The morning of her death—the 80th anniversary of our father’s birth—we had no idea early that evening, after numerous connection attempts that day, we would discover her body, upright on her couch, in her living room, which was cool from the steady flow of air from the A/C and an oscillating fan. The moment the officers forcefully opened her door, I saw her legs from the corner and unconsciously stated the obvious. Lisa ran to her, and we both caressed her cold face, neck and rigid extremities. Mom and Lisa were planning to meet that day, and I planned to meet with her that Saturday with the girls. In that moment, I could only think about protecting my sister, my mother’s body and her space that was no longer private—and communicating the news to our brother.

Almost everything about that moment and the environment was memorable: we saw her cell phone on her lap—and her A1c monitor and two photo albums on the coffee table. All blinds throughout the apartment, including those along the patio area, were closed. We saw her closed laptop on an end table. We could hear the television in her bedroom and see the lights in various rooms. Her bed was in order, and a nebulizer, breathing machine and sealed medicine packs for the machine were on the comforter. The urine in the toilet was clear. We saw the stovetop and remnants of the meal she prepared—there and in the trash can adjacent to it. Without an approved autopsy request, we pray the death certificate from her physician will offer some clarity.

Imogene Antwine Marsh was born in Garland, Texas to Orlee Antwine (1928-1982) and Bernice Antwine Goodson (1927-1994). Her mother raised four girls, while working, in the deep South during a pivotal time in American history. In 1966, Imogene married Samuel Marsh, Sr. (1945-2019) from Marshall, Texas and maneuvered numerous paths of resistance in life, which made her achievements even more significant. After suffering numerous unimaginable losses as a mother-to-be, with God’s mercy and protection, she became a mother of three and, many decades later, a proud grandmother of three. Over four decades, they raised their family in communities in Pleasant Grove, Mesquite (achieving the milestone of home ownership in the late 1980s) and Balch Springs.

Years after dropping out of high school, she earned her G.E.D. (Go Tigers!) and later in life earned her associate’s degree in business management, management certificate and human resource assistant certificate from Eastfield College. She was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and an All-American Collegiate Scholar. For 16 years, she worked for the IRS, leading a team of 25 collection reps, training and coaching IRS employees and ultimately assuming a special procedures role later in her tenure. For over 20 years, she also served various retail, healthcare and grocery companies in the Dallas area, while providing tax preparation support through the IRS's VITA program and private companies at different points in time.

Mom and Dad were six years apart in birth—and in death. Six years and six months ago, Dad, to whom she was married 40 years (and divorced 13 years), died at home (while on the phone with Lisa) from a major and abrupt illness, and she was the first to confirm his death. Lisa was the last person to connect with our parents.

Our mother was “Auntie” to many in the Antwine and Marsh families. Not only was she “Nana” to my girls and my nephew, she was a little sister, big sister and beneficiary of a community of aunts and cousins.

She is survived by her daughter (Lisa Marsh and family), elder son (Samuel Marsh, Jr., wife Tammy and family), younger son (Christopher Marsh), oldest sister (Cora Bell, husband Joe and family) and youngest sisters (Mabel Antwine and family, Joyce Antwine and family).

We respect her wishes and will cremate her remains, with no funeral service. In early November, we will have a private celebration and commemoration of her life.

Samuel Marsh, Jr., on behalf of Lisa, Christopher and family