Marilynn Yolanda Masingale

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Marilynn Yolanda Masingale, 69, passed away at her home in Decatur, Georgia, on September 16 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Born in Longview, Texas, she was the daughter of Robert and Josephine Masingale. She graduated from J.N. Ervin High School in Dallas, Texas, and then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Spelman College and Georgia Tech University. She was a resident of the Atlanta area for over 40 years.

Marilynn, who earned the qualification of Professional Engineer, worked as a civil engineer for the city of Atlanta for 30 years. However, her avocation was sports. She was a dedicated runner who belonged to the Atlanta Track Club. She ran in the Peachtree Road Race, participated in numerous meets across the southeast, and once completed the Atlanta Marathon. Her involvement with the Track Club led to her selection as a track and field judge at the Atlanta Olympics in 1976. Over the years she also played softball and soccer in local leagues and learned to scuba dive. She was a gifted musician as well who played piano, flute, and saxophone.

Marilynn committed her life to Christ as a teenager and grew in grace as a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, where she used her gifts as a willing servant. She sang in the choir and made rehearsal CDs for choir members until the onset of her illness. She was also a children’s choir director at the church for a number of years. Additionally, she was part of the evangelism team and also ministered to church visitors who wanted to give their lives to Christ. Marilynn traveled with the choir as they performed at various conferences throughout the United States and went on a life-changing visit to Israel with the choir as well. A devoted daughter, she made frequent trips to Dallas during her mother’s last years to assist her brother with their mother’s care. Toward the end of her life, she became deeply concerned with the problems of hunger and malnutrition in children.

Preceded in death by her parents, Marilynn is survived by four brothers and sisters: Robert Masingale, Jr., of Dallas, Texas; Michael (Jane) Masingale of Syracuse, N.Y.; Sharon (Robert) Bell of Kent, Ohio; and Pamela (Kenneth) Lewis of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; five nieces and nephews: Langston Masingale of Yonkers, N.Y.; Caleb Lewis of Knoxville, Tennessee; Joseph Bell of Kent; Naomi Masingale of Syracuse, and Sarah Lewis of Middleton, Wisconsin; two great-nieces, Nailah and Aaliyah Masingale; and a large number of cousins and friends.

Per Marilynn’s request, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at A.S. Turner Funeral Home, 2773 N. Decatur Rd. in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday, October 2 at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will take place from 12:00 until 1:00. Memorial contributions may be made to the Family Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 1626, Stone Mountain, Georgia (www.fhfi.org), to other organizations focused on child nutrition, or to local food banks.