Marvin Sheffield

Posted on February 27, 2024

Marvin Sheffield passed peacefully during the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, at his home in Salem at the age of 89. He was born Jan. 13, 1935, in Sumatra, Fla., to John B. Sheffield and Rose (Horne) Sheffield. He is predeceased by: his brothers, Mitchell, Gerald, John M. and Eli Sheffield;
his twin sister, Margaret; and sisters, (infant) Mary, Gail Smith and Beth
Drawdy. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Billie Lucretia (Livingston) Sheffield, and their one adopted daughter, Jennifer Sheffield, and husband, Timothy L. Lundy. He has three
grandchildren, Joshua Miles, Savannah Lundy and Victoria Lundy, which were his reasons for living.
He also has brothersin-law, Bill Drawdy, William Smith and Buddy Livingston and wife, Jody; sisters-in-law, Jan Sheffield and Dude Ezell; and his last living brother, Royce “Hint” Sheffield and wife, Ethel.
He has a very special great-nephew and caregiver, Taran Barger; along with a large host of cousins, nieces and nephews that will miss him dearly. He served two years in the United States Army
in Germany before returning home to Salem, after which he became a faithful servant to the Lord for more than 58 years at Athena Baptist Church and, later, Salem Missionary Baptist Church. He was one of the founding members of the church and worked countless hours beginning in 1983 to help build the
church by hand. He proudly served on various committees,
including the bus ministry and in the children’s nursery. But more proudly, he greeted everyone at the
door each Sunday morning. He traveled to Honduras on foreign mission trips
and proudly participated in years of home mission
projects. His summers were dedicated to his grandchildren and traveling
near and far to see new things. This was his time to be a child again. His largest passion in
life after his family was his love of music. At a young age he realized he had the talent to play anything with strings. His love for music and Nashville gave him the opportunity over the next 75 years to play with many of the legends. His proudest moment was being joined on the Ryman Auditorium stage in
Nashville by his daughter after purchasing her first guitar that year. After retirement, he traveled for more than 10 years attending steel guitar conventions.
In 2016, he was recognized by the Steel Guitar Association in Nashville, Tenn., and given “The Legends Award” and an honorary lifetime membership.
Joe P. Burns Funeral Home is in charge arrangements, and a graveside service at New Hope Cemetery in Athena will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Children’s Home Society of Florida, 1801
Miccosukee Commons Drive, Tallahassee.