Rev. Marilyn Ramsey

Rev. Marilyn Juanita Biggers Ramsey was born on August 10, 1933, to Roy and Savannah Biggers, in Nashville, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Warren Ramsey, her sisters Eva Patrick, Vera Talley and brother James Thomas Biggers. She joined Bethel AME Church at a very early age and was baptized at the age of nine under the pastorate of the late Rev. E. S. Rose. She was a member of the renowned Bethel Gospel Singers organized by the late Rev. H. Ralph Jackson, Bethel Pride Club, and the New Age Seniors.

Rev. Marilyn Ramsey, a native of Nashville, one of the longest-standing members of Greater Bethel, answered her call to preach in 1984 during the pastorate of the Rev, H. L Parks she was licensed to preach in 1985. She was ordained a local deacon in October 1988 and ordained local elder in 1990. She was appointed by the pastor during that time to the work on the Prison Ministry in 1989. She has been very dedicated to the Outreach Ministry in the Community of Metropolitan, Davidson County.

She was educated in the Public School System of Nashville, Tennessee. In later years she had the opportunity to further her education by attending Tennessee Technological Institute in Cookeville for two years and taking a six-month course at Vanderbilt on seizure disorders. Having supervisory skills, she was hired to manage the Alameda Terrace Apartments and 2100 Clifton Apartments. As a person who loved to care for people, she became one of the volunteers for Meharry Hospital for nine years as a Patient Representative. She served as a Cub Scout leader at Moses McKissack School until she was promoted to Coordinator of the South Nashville Area later becoming the first female Scout Master in the City of Nashville.

She was civic-minded and a fighter for the people alongside her friend Mrs. C.E. McGruder. They believed in serving the people and God. She was a faithful member of the NAACP and served on the local Executive Board for fifteen years. She was also a member of the Davidson County Democratic Women; a board member of the Davidson County Independent Political Council (DCIPC) organized by the late Attorney Avon Williams. She received a certificate of appreciation from Governor Don Sunquest and received a Resolution from the State House of Representatives. She was also honored by Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church as a Civil Rights Icon in 2017. Through the years, Rev. Ramsey received numerous awards for community service.

She leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Larry (Andrian) Biggers, Elliott (Debra) Ramsey, Michael Ramsey, Anthony (Laurah) Ramsey, and daughters, Cherry Reve-Videaux, Mary Richardson, Juanita Amos, grandchildren, Lillian Jones, Kenneth A. Biggers, William Eugene Irvin, Cynthia (B. L. Joi and Bina) Fuller, nieces, nephews, and cousins, Dwight (Cathy) Patrick, Barbara Biggers (Miles), Wayne Thompson, and a host of other relatives and friends.