Marcia Rochelle Dial

Marcia Rochelle Dial was born on July 23, 1951 to the late Doris and Emmanuel Dial in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the third of four children. Growing up, Marcia loved to read, listen to music, and dance; she was very sociable and enjoyed being around people. Be it sitting on the front porch eating ice cream and her famous chocolate cookies, or spending time at the homes of her six aunts and uncles with her 21 first cousins, Marcia thoroughly enjoyed the company of her childhood friends and family. Although she did her fair share of cutting school and cursing with her girlfriends nicknamed “The Crew” to hang out at “The Hole,” Marcia graduated from Glenville High School in January of 1970 and took classes at Cuyahoga Community College. As a young woman Marcia, also known as “Red,” enjoyed everything from cabaret parties and concerts to screaming during wrestling matches at the Cleveland Arena. To hear her laugh made many hearts fill with joy. Marcia began her professional career in administration with the accounts payable department at Higbee’s Department Store in downtown Cleveland and worked there for 20 years. When Higbee’s went out of business, she took her administrative talents to May Company. After a few years, Marcia switched fields and joined the staff of Hitchcock Center for Women – the only residential alcohol and drug treatment center for women and their children in Cuyahoga County. She was affectionately known as “Miss Marcia” and was a constant source of support, encouragement, and understanding. She served in several capacities including administrative associate, billing coordinator, office manager, volunteer coordinator, assistant to the director, and secretary to the board of trustees. Marcia was a wonderful colleague; she touched the lives of countless women and children during her 19 years of service at Hitchcock. Had she not been forced to go on disability in early 2013 due to illness, she would undoubtedly still be at the center. Marcia’s willingness to sacrifice is unparalleled; she gave freely, loved deeply, listened without judgment, always had a kind word or warm hug for others, and was fiercely protective of those she loved. None benefited more from Marcia’s grace and love than her children, Cheria Vonique and Jemarrio Lamont. She enjoyed a particularly close relationship with her nephew, Darian Maurice, who she helped raise. Marcia was blessed with five grandchildren, Jahi Sekou, Kayli Ann, Jaedyn Rochelle, Jace Allen, and Jasiri Zaki. She also has three loving siblings, Emmanuel Richard, Jr., Patricia Ann, and Dawné Nadine (Tony); two nieces, Tanya Cherice and Erica Arecia; and three nephews, Darian Maurice, Joshua Lee, and Jonah Alexander. Marcia has seven great nieces, Jordan Lashae, Jayla Aré, Tre’jure Divine, Dyzjhae Janiya, Dyonni Seniya, Janaé Armani, and Myah Ymani; and six great nephews, Ahijah Tefari, Ravielle Maurice, Da’Ray Savion, Davion Robert, Jaylen Alexander, and Airyn Mykol. Marcia acquired her first bonus child, Meredith Watkins, when she befriended her daughter in the second grade, and her second bonus child, Andre “Mo Blue” Dancie, when he befriended her son in sixth grade. Marcia was preceded in death by her grandmother Annie Farrow, her parents Doris Nadine and Emmanuel Richard Dial, her uncles Allen McLaughlin, Jr. and Emmet McLaughlin, her aunts Claudia Robinson, Jean Staples, and Mildred Samuels, special cousins Pamela Taylor and Ricky Staples, and two of her closest friends Barbara Readus and Florine Glass. Marcia leaves a wonderful aunt Hattie Peterson, special cousins Terri Boldware, Larry Robinson, Carrie Ann Yarber, and Monique Harwell, as well as her former partner of 25 years, Gregory Webb. Marcia also leaves most of her closest friends to continue her legacy of love, Darnella Allen, Regina Barron, Cheryl Bloodworth, Andrea Zyer Clark, Betty Finkbone, Rose Holley, Debra Qualls, Wilhelmina Russell, Nadine Strowder, Zelma Tucker Reese, and JoAnn Wallace. To know her was to love her and those of us who knew Marcia are certainly better because of the joy she inspired in our lives.