Jay & Jamal Marshall in honor of Susan Johnson

Many of you are aware that Jay and Jamal recently lost their grandmother, who had been their primary caregiver for the past twelve years. She passed away last month, leaving the boys to cope with this huge loss and to make arrangements for their future, including establishing a new home. Jay is a first year 5th grade teacher and coach at Fort Worth Christian, and Jamal attends and plays football for Georgetown University.

Many of you have generously offered financial assistance, and we are going to use this Go Fund Me and have also established a Venmo account @MarshallBros (https://account.venmo.com/u/MarshallBros), which directly contributes to a fund dedicated to securing housing and future expenses for Jay and Jamal once they have to be out of their home at the end of the month.

Jay and Jamal have faced immense loss in their young lives. Their father tragically lost his life to a drunk driver in May of 2011, and just three weeks later, their mother succumbed to breast cancer in June. Susan, their grandmother, enrolled them at FWC in 2012, and they have been a wonderful addition to the Cardinal Community ever since.

Their grandmother, Susan, was a wonderful lady. Here’s a little bit about her from her obituary: Susan Johnson passed away at her home of 29 years in Hurst, Texas on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at the age of 74. When her son, William, passed away in 2011, and the boys’ mother died of Breast Cancer just 3 weeks after, she took in his two young boys, Jay and Jamal, who gave her life renewed purpose. She was once again doing what she loved most, nurturing the minds and souls of young people.

Susan had a creative mind and bright spirit, often saying she marched to the beat of a different drummer. Always an avid reader, Susan believed in the power of education. She found community in education at Bearss Academy in Jackson, MS, where her children attended. A generation later she found Fort Worth Christian for her grandsons, where they received so much more than an education—many nurturing hearts, true friendship, and a strong support system for which Susan was eternally grateful. The beat of her drum may have slowed, but she continued to march to God’s calling to her last day.