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WHEREAS, Marcia Donnell has been a faithful servant to the Pittsburgh gospel community playing piano and serenading congregations with her beautiful soprano singing voice for more than 68 years. Starting at the age of 17, she served a multitude of churches in a variety of denominations, including Monumental Baptist, Cleaves Temple Methodist Church, 2nd Baptist Church of Carnegie, Wilson Chapel A.M.E. of Vandergrift, Allen Chapel A.M.E., Beulah Baptist, New Covenant, Hillcrest Seventh Day Adventist, and her home church Ebenezer Baptist; and,
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WHEREAS, Marcia played for West and Jones Funeral Home in the Hill District for over 40 years, following in the footsteps of her greatest musical inspirations - her mother, Jeanette Freshley and cousin Gloria Briskey. Both served the Pittsburgh gospel music arena for many years. Her mother played piano for Jones Funeral Home and her cousin was a deejay of the gospel music on WAMO-FM; and,
WHEREAS, Marcia was generous with her time. She performed for banquets, bar mitzvahs, and conventions. She directed choir rehearsals after work during the week. She played and sang for twilight services, Sunday School, the early and main service on Sundays, holiday services as well as evening services. All this while working for the Allegheny County Board of Assistance, where she retired in 1993, after 30 years of service as an Income Maintenance Supervisor. In 1980 she received her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating cum laude; and,
WHEREAS, some of her most prominent engagements were playing for the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention Western Region Women's Ministry, the Baptist Ministers' Conference of Pittsburgh & Vicinity for many years until 2012, and the National Baptist Association of Germany Congress of Christian Education. Her gifts provided her the opportunity to travel to Europe six times sharing her music ministry in Paris, Rome, Italy, and many cities and countries throughout Europe. Some of her favorite projects were working with the Male Chorus at Beulah Baptist and Ebenezer Baptist Church; and,
WHEREAS, Marcia continues to share her music ministry with the residents and workers at the Forbes Rehabilitation Center where she currently resides;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare September 17, 2023 to be “Marcia Donnell Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.