RICHLANDS  -  Clara Mae Penny Marshburn, 78, entered this world on September 14, 1945 and entered her eternal home on December 27, 2023. She was the daughter of Rev. Robert DeVol Penny and Lummie Swinson Penny. She grew up with her 6 brothers and sisters on their farm in Beulaville. She graduated from East Duplin High School in 1963 and attended King's Business College for a year then married the love of her life Rev. Errett Lathan Marshburn Sr. They had three children, Errett Lathan Marshburn Jr, Angela Michelle Marshburn Buchanan, and Jeffrey Allen Marshburn. She was a pastor's wife and she and her husband pastored the New Hope Church in the Haw Branch area of Onslow County from 1980 to 1988. In 1988, they planted the Christian Life Fellowship Church in Jacksonville NC. They served as pastors there until 2018 when they retired. She was well-known as a prayer warrior and for her delicious cooking, especially her chicken & pastry, her biscuits, her collards, and blueberry crunch. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening and trending to her chickens.
She is survived by her husband Rev. Errett Lathan Marshburn Sr. of the home; her son Errett Lathan Marshburn Jr (Tracie, Anna, Abigail) of Kinston NC and daughter Angela Buchanan (Evans) of Jacksonville NC, a brother Roland Penny of Beulaville NC, a brother Raymond Penny of Kenansville NC and host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her youngest son Jeffrey Allen Marshburn, her parents, her brother Robert Penny, her sister Anna Buckman, her sister Glenda Mobley.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, that you donate to St. Judes Hospital as that was a charity that Clara supported monthly (www.https://stjude.org)

Visitation will be at Jones Funeral Home in Jacksonville NC on Monday from 6-8 pm.

Funeral services will be at Christian Life Fellowship at 1:30 pm on Tuesday January 2, 2024

The family is currently receiving visitors at the home located at 136 Trott Road, Richlands NC 28574.