Franklin Leroy 'Roy' Marks, 80, of 701 Frederick Ave. died Saturday, November 28, at Century Care.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church officiated by the Rev. Lawrence B. Coleman.
Burial will follow in Hillside Memorial Park.
He is survived by his wife, Hazel Wallace Marks; a daughter, 'Elroy' Snead of Laurinburg; a brother, the Rev. Ellis Marks of Monroe; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Jenkins of Rockingham and Miss Evelyn Marks of Rockingham; two granddaughters, Robin S. Oswald of Laurinburg and Ashley S. Henry of Durham; 5 nephews and 2 nieces.
Roy was born March 14, 1918 in Rockingham, and was a son of the late B. F. and Mary McKay Marks. He came to Laurinburg in 1939 as a manager for Allen stores, a forerunner of the current Winn-Dixie. He joined the McNair organization 6 months later as a department manager for John F. McNair, Inc.
He was drafted in 1942 and served with distinction with the 8th Air Force in England.
After the war, he returned to the McNair organization as a bookkeeper for the vast farming operation under the direction of K. J. Shaw. He eventually rose to become president of Laurinburg Milling company, President of Baker Enterprises, vice-president of McNair Investment Company, and general manager of the farming operation during some of its most prosperous years. He retired because of declining health several years before the liquidation of McNair Investment Co.
He was active in the Laurinburg Lions Club where he held practically every office, including President, State District Cabinet Secretary, and State District Deputy Governor.
He was an active member of the Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce and was not only instrumental in industrial development, but also served as the President of the Chamber when the current office was built.
He was a trustee of Pembroke State University, now UNC-P. He served with distinction as Chairman of the Board and was instrumental in organizing the University Foundation. The University made great strides in growth in both students and facilities during his tenure. He was described in 1979 by Gene Warren, the Director of Public Affairs, as 'a man of distinguished bearing, he is an individual of tremendous statue, integrity beyond reproach, and the resolve to do what is right in every instance.'
He was a long time member of the Laurinburg First Baptist Church where he held several offices including Deacon of the Church.
He also served for 8 years as a member of the Board of Directors of Wachovia Bank & Trust Co., as chairman of the Scotland County United Way, and as chairman of the Scotland County Planning and Zoning Board.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Roy Marks Scholarship, PO Box 883, Laurinburg, NC 28353 or Boys and Girls Home of NC, PO Box 127, Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450.
Visitation will be 7 - 9 p.m. Monday at the McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium.
Read Franklin Marks's Obituary and Guestbook.