Rev Heighley Marshall

Heighley Marshall was converted at the age of thirteen and soon thereafter became conscious of the call of God in his life.

In 1919 he went to the United States of America to train for missionary service at the Missionary Training Institute of Nyack, New York. At that time he believed that he would be led to work either in the Sudan or the Congo. However, this door of service remained closed and in 1923 he accepted the invitation of the Methodist Church to act as pastor of the Red Hill and Greenwood Park churches in the Durban circuit.

In 1924 he accepted the call of the Free Church at Senekal in the Orange Free State where he remained in 1929. Heighley then commenced a ministry in our Baptist churches, serving the congregation at Port Alfred, Alice, Grahamstown and Boksburg with devotion and acceptance. In 1943 he was appointed Chaplain to the Forces, serving South Africa in Egypt and then after the war in this country until he retired in 1959.

"Padre" as he was affectionately know left his mark on each cause he served. He is remembered as a pastor with a sincere and deep interest in and a genuine concern for people. He is still remembered as the chaplain who visited the military hospitals every single day he was on duty. A great love for little ones caused "Padre" to commence meeting for the children of serviceman in the various base camps he served. The effectiveness of these meetings is best gauged by the many lives influenced and by the fruit that still remains.

Retirement for the Rev Heighley Marshall was just the transfer of activity from the chaplaincy to various other spheres. He served on the council of Treverton School from its inception, he assisted the Methodist Church in the Greytown and York districts by preaching regularly for them. He worked tirelessly for the cause of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship in which his son Gordon serves as a pilot and he constantly left an indelible imprint on all he met his radiant testimony and Christ like ways.

Written by: Syd Hudson-Reed