Red Hook Star-Revue, April 2022

from Red Hook Star-Revue, April 2022

Red Hook Star-Revue, April 2022

Lillie Marshall Honored, by Brian Abate

It was a glorious afternoon at the Miccio Center last month when Red Hook's finest came to celebrate the service of longtime community activist and leader, Lillie Marshall.

Nydia Velazquez and Alexa Aviles worked together with James McBride and created a lovely afternoon full of speeches and music and dancing, in person at Red Hook community center. Excellent music was presented by the New Brown Soul, led by Mc- Bride, who trains musicians at the New Brown Baptist Church. Happy dancing broke out after a while.

Marshall, originally from Georgia, moved to Red Hook in 1966. She served as the president of the Red Hook West Tenants Association and as Vice President of the New York City Tenants Association. She also joined New Brown Memorial Baptist Church in 1968.

“It’s not where you’re going, it’s what you do when you get there,” Marshall said. “I love it here, people are very friendly, and I’m still advocating for seniors, children, and families now. I may no longer be the president of the Tenant Association but I still have the same phone number so anything you need, I’m here.”

Musician and author James McBride, whose family founded the Church, hosted the event. Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to grab the microphone from him to speak about Marshall.

“That woman is no joke,” said Marshall’s son. “She taught me how to be a man, a good person, and how to survive.”

A friend of Marshall said, “We’ve known each other for 40 years, and I was a little scared of her at first but she has a heart of solid gold.”

Aviles also spoke about Marshall and praised her for continuing to engage with and serve the community even though she is no longer president of the Red Hook West Tenants Association.

“From our first conversation together, I knew she suffered no fools, and that she was giving it her all” Aviles said. “We wanted to celebrate and honor you [Marshall] with you here, because this is often a thankless job, and you’ve done so much for the community.”

“Let me say to you, Lillie, thank you,” Velazquez said. “You have always been a fighter and you will continue to be a fighter. It’s an honor and a privilege and it has inspired me that real people are bringing communities together and making them stronger, which is exactly what you’ve done.”

The music included (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and then Tito Puente’s Oye Cómo Va, which got everyone out of their seats and dancing.

“I started learning from James [McBride] when I was around seven or eight years old,” said Helen Lingaard, the lead singer. “I found out about this from a friend and I always loved music and he helped bring the best out of me. I remember we started off playing drums using buckets, so we’ve come a long way.

“I grew up in Red Hook and I’ve lived here most of my life but I moved with my family to New Jersey during the pandemic. It’s a long commute back to the neighborhood but I love it here. It’s a community where people will appreciate you, never judge you, and take care of you.

“James has always helped me out when I’m down and so has Margaret [Saunders, who works with McBride,] so I’m really grateful. This was a great opportunity for me to perform and I think this was a great event honoring Lillie Marshall.”

Photos from the Party

**Lillie receives a Proclomation from City Hall, presented by Councilmember Alexa Aviles**
Photos by George Fiala

**Nydia Velazquez dances with the local police chief**

**Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez reading from the Congressional Record about Miss Lillie.**

**Lillie received a tableful of flowers**

You can still call Lillie with NYCHA problems, at (718) 755-5027

RECOGNIZING MS. LILLIE MARSHALL HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ Friday, March 18, 2022

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Lillie Marshall who has dedicated much of her life in service to her Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY community. She was born on April 24, 1943, in Sparta, Georgia, to a family of community leaders in education, law and business. Five years out of Hancock Central High School, she moved to Red Hook, Brooklyn.

As a proud single mother of four, Ms. Lillie Marshall became known for her no-nonsense approach and commitment to the area children. She advocated for and arranged after-school programs for youth of all ages.

When a private school was built in the neighborhood, she served on a committee that successfully secured annual scholarships for qualifying children of Red Hook public housing. She has watched over generations of families for decades.

Ms. Marshall fervently advocated for tenants in her twenty-year role as the Tenant Association President of Red Hook West. She met with NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) executive and local leadership alike to give tenant perspectives and amplify their voices. Ms. Marshall also served on NYCHA’s Citywide Council of Presidents as District Chair of Brooklyn South.

Ms. Marshall’s efforts will long be remembered for her Thanksgiving turkey drives for local families, feeding the homeless, delivering meals and PPE to homebound seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She has been a leader at events such as Red Hook Old Timers Day, National Night Out Against Crime and has organized Red Hook Family Day every year.

For her decades of leadership and volunteerism, Ms. Lillie Marshall will not soon be forgotten by her beloved Red Hook. Her legacy of lifelong community service has instilled core values and civic pride in her community.