Marilyn Eva Cobb-Mcdonald

MARILYN EVA COBB-McDONALD, Age 71; Spent her younger years in Colebrook and traveled the world but never forgot how easy it was in simpler times to cross the Canadian border and back---you simply stated that you were from Colebrook, New Hampshire, U.S.A., in that order, one of her sisters recalled---died Thursday evening, Dec. 17 in Cleveland surrounded by members of her family. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three years ago, she was one of the affliction's longer survivors. Born Feb. 7, 1944 in Pittsburgh, Pa., Marilyn was the first daughter of Elsie Margaret Stanton Cobb and Major Ivorey Cobb, US Army (Ret.),who came to Colebrook as a lawyer and later was named as District Court judge. As one of the few African-American families to relocate in northern New Hampshire, her sister Louise recalled that life was wonderful and the family remembered their Colebrook years with great fondness. As a child of a career military family Marilyn lived in Italy, Germany and Austria, and as an adult traveled to Japan, China, Brazil, Mexico, Trinidad, Haiti, St Lucia, France, Costa Rica, Switzerland, England, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico and Canada. With this last, she recalled, all the family had to state at the border was that they lived in Colebrook and were just going to Sherbrooke for some Chinese food, or just coming home. Marilyn is survived by her only child, Marilyn Anne McDonald Hendricks; sisters Gretel Cobb Webster and Louise Cobb Phillips; brother in law Dennis O. Webster; and nieces and nephews Edmond Cobb Phillips, Gretel Denise Webster, Kris Webster and his wife Devna Webster, Carissa Louise Phillips, and Taylor Patrick Webster; and great nephew and niece Nikhil and Ava Webster. She was also predeceased by her niece Heather Lynn Webster. Marilyn earned her Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Cheyney (Pa.) State College, and received her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University. She was admitted to The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1977. Marilyn taught at Pimlico High School in Baltimore, Maryland and Colebrook Academy. After graduating from law school Marilyn joined her father's law practice in Colebrook, and then went to work for the Pennsylvania Housing Authority in Harrisburg, Pa., and the Illinois Housing Development Authority in Chicago. She served before the Congressional Appropriations Committee as staff associate for Congressman Louis Stokes, and served in various positions with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority in Cleveland. She retired in 2008, and spent her recent years traveling internationally with her daughter and family as well as serving the Cleveland community in various organizations. Memberships during her life included the Daughters of the King, following the path of her maternal grandmother; and a member of The Links, Inc.; the Cleveland Museum of Art; Friends of African and African American Art at the museum; the Aquarela Do Mundo Escola de Samba; the vestry of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland; the Union of Black Episcopalians; and the Girl Scouts of America. Her family recalled that Marilyn began listening to National Public Radio in the 1960s when, as they put it, no one knew what NPR was, and that she could make a friend wherever in the world she was whether or not she spoke the language. In 1999, while traveling in Japan on the bullet train from Tokyo to Hiroshima, she struck up a conversation with two Japanese ladies who did not speak any English while Marilyn did not speak any Japanese. Even so, she and her two new friends corresponded for the rest of her life. Marilyn loved to dance and taught herself the cha cha cha while watching American Bandstand with Gretel. In New York City she met President Barack Obama at Sylvia's Restaurant during the 2008 campaign. When he entered the restaurant Marilyn happened to glance up from the menu, and in seconds jumped over several tables to introduce herself, already addressing him as Mr. President. In addition, she had the honor of meeting Bishop Desmond Tutu. Cremation and a committal service will be held Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. in Cleveland at the Trinity Cathedral. More information is available from Ginger Bitikofer at the cathedral at 216-774-0407 or by e-mail at gbitikofer@trinitycleveland.org. In lieu of flowers please consider sending a contribution to NCCU Foundation, Inc. Please designate your contribution to be in the memory of Marilyn Eva Cobb McDonald towards funding and publication of research of pancreatic cancer by Dr. Antonio T. Baines. The more of the world we see, the richer we become. - Emirate Air em nome de amor quero morrer de prazer soñar despierto vivir lo nuestro Religious commitment did not require me to suspend critical thinking, disengage from the battle for economic and social justice, or otherwise retreat from the world that I knew and loved - Barack Obama I've got my plans and brave ambitions / Knowing no bounds, no inhibitions / And I'm aware there's a lesson in every fall / So next time I'll get closer / - Basia "Third Time Lucky" SERVICES ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2015 at Trinity Cathedral , 2230 Euclid Avenue; The Links White Rose Ceremony at 2:00 PM followed by her memorial service at 3:00 PM. Private Interment.