RICHMOND, Va. — This past weekend, a service was held to honor the legacy of Henry L. Marsh III, the first Black mayor of Richmond, where current and former Virginia political figures remembered his groundbreaking contributions and unwavering dedication to civil rights.
The funeral took place on Saturday at a church in the Richmond area, drawing hundreds of attendees to pay their respects to Marsh, who passed away on January 23 at the age of 91, as announced by Manning Funeral Home. Marsh’s life and work were particularly significant in a city that was once the capital of the Confederacy.
Born in Richmond and raised in segregated educational institutions, Marsh dedicated a significant portion of his career to confronting and dismantling racial segregation in various areas including education, government, and employment. “He recognized injustice and took action,” stated U.S. Representative Bobby Scott during the service, as reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Marsh began his political journey in 1966 when he was elected to the Richmond City Council. Just four years later, he ascended to the position of vice mayor, and in 1977 he made history as the city’s first Black mayor, during a time when both the mayor and vice mayor were appointed by the council.
Following his mayoral term, Marsh transitioned to state politics, winning a seat in the Virginia State Senate in 1991, where he served the 16th District for 22 years before stepping down. His efforts in advocating against segregation earned him recognition in 2020, when the Richmond school board named an elementary school after him, honoring his educational experiences.
Dwight Jones, who served as Richmond’s mayor from 2009 to 2016, reflected on Marsh’s lessons about power and its responsible use, stating, “He taught us it is one thing to have power, and it is another to use it. He changed the trajectory of the city.”
During the eulogy, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a former Richmond mayor and civil rights attorney, spoke on the mentorship he received from Marsh. As a student at Virginia Union University, Marsh famously testified against the state’s policy of maintaining separate public schools for Black and white students.
Later, he pursued legal studies at Howard University, sharing accommodations with L. Douglas Wilder, who succeeded Marsh as Richmond’s mayor and later became the nation’s first Black governor. In 1961, Marsh co-founded a law firm with Samuel L. Tucker, where they successfully litigated cases related to Philip Morris, seniority rights for Black workers, and the introduction of single-member districts in the General Assembly.
Scott also highlighted that Marsh led nearly 50 lawsuits aimed at abolishing segregated schools in Virginia. Later in his career, he was appointed as commissioner of the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control by then-Governor Terry McAuliffe.
Marsh is survived by his three children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His wife, Diane, who worked as a dentist, passed away in 2020. His legacy continues to inspire and influence many in Virginia and beyond.
