Samuel David Marshall III

Samuel David Marshall III was a man of many rhythms, each one layered like the beats he tapped out on his beloved drums. Born in Griffytown, Kentucky, Sam’s journey would be as dynamic as the jazz he adored and as discerning as the wardrobe he so carefully curated. He had a knack for transforming ordinary moments into celebrations of music, intellect, and style.

Growing up in Griffytown, a close-knit Black community where everyone knew and supported each other, Sam developed his love of music. His parents, Samuel Marshall, II and Johnetta Marshall, along with his grandmother, Emma Garr Ferguson, affectionately known as "Ferg," nurtured his taste for good food, fine clothing and an even better life. With each day his confidence grew, eventually fashioning Sam into the self-assured, well-spoken, best-dressed man people couldn’t help but notice.

From the start, Sam had a magnetic personality. As a teen, he, his siblings, and friends formed a band and performed at local events—Sam on the drums, and others singing or playing instruments. The applause ignited something in him: he didn’t just want to be good; he wanted to master the art of everything he touched.

When Sam went off to Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte, North Carolina, he majored in Chemistry and minored in German—an unusual combination, but it spoke to his curious spirit. He joined the university’s marching band as a drum major and became a member of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Through it all, he never stopped chasing music and excellence, even teaching himself instruments like guitar and piano in his free hours. And when he found jazz, he found his home.

Jazz wasn’t just music for Sam; it was a conversation with the universe. It was science, art, and love blended into a language he studied and revered. The beats, the breaks, the melodies—he heard each note individually, discerning its place in the grand scheme. In the mornings, his neighbors would hear the faint notes of Bill Evans' "Peace Piece" on the piano, his hands methodically finding their way across the keys as his coffee cooled in front of him.

In San Francisco, his life took on a festive flair, especially during the 49ers football season. He tailgated with friends at Candlestick Park, legendary parties in the RV becoming the stuff of local lore. His sports fandom was intense, but his love of golf ultimately stole his heart. Arizona was the perfect home for a golfer, and he played daily until his illness intervened, although still dedicated to the rhythm of the game he cherished.

Sam’s professional life was a patchwork of brilliance. He had patents in his name from his days at General Electric, attended medical school, was an Army veteran, and even directed the choir at Peace Presbyterian Church. Whether as a chemist, stockbroker, or wardrobe consultant, he poured his whole heart into every job, each role reflecting a different facet of his character. Yet it was at Daskalos Men’s Fashion that he found his most harmonious calling, merging his love for style with his gift for helping people find their best selves.

Sam’s life was a symphony of contrasts: disciplined yet spontaneous, intellectual yet soulful, polished yet deeply relatable. Every chapter of his life was a new verse in his own jazz composition—a masterful blend of bold notes, quiet pauses, and brilliant solos. If you knew Sam, you knew someone who lived not just with passion but with a fearlessness that made him a true master of his fate and captain of his soul.

Sam transitioned gracefully to his heavenly home on November 5, 2024, leaving a legacy as enduring as his spirit. He leaves to cherish his memory wife, Carolyn Jean Marshall of Surprise, AZ; daughter Kathryn Lynne Marshall Sanders of Charlotte, NC; sister Glenna Marshall of Jeffersontown, KY; brother John Marshall (Teresa) of Los Angeles, CA; sister-in-law Dr. Irene Marshall (Dr. Charles Marshall, deceased) of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren Megan Sanders of Charlotte, NC and Shaun Sanders of Huntersville, NC; stepdaughter Valerie Allman of Goodyear, AZ; niece Tanae Ferebee-Marshall; nephews Dr. Henry Marshall (Dr. Rachel Milam) and Samuel Marshall (Rachel Thomas); grandnieces Mia Marshall and Chelsea Marshall; one great-grandniece, five great-grandnephews and a host of close friends.