Celebration of life: Mass shooting victim Mary Marshall remembered by friends, family at Dix Park

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Mary Marshall remembered by family, friends at celebration of life

Dozens of mourners gathered in Dix Park Saturday for Mary Marshall's public memorial on what would have been her wedding day.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Mary Marshall's friends and family gathered Saturday morning to remember her and celebrate her life. Marshall was one of five killed in the Raleigh mass shooting on Thursday, October 13 in the Hedingham community.

The service for Marshall, who was a Navy veteran, was held at Dix Park.

"When Mary laughed, you couldn't miss it," said her fiancé, Robert Steele. "You heard it on the other side of the house. And her laugh was infectious. It made everybody else laugh, too."

Steele and Marshall made plans for Mackenzie Smith to officiate when they got married.

"Mary was and still is a beacon of light all around us. Whether she was screaming from a spider, or cackling because she successfully scared someone, Mary did everything with gusto. So, I leave you with this today. Don't let Mary down. When you're sad, cry. When you're unhappy or sad. do your best "Mary cackle." And when you need to set someone straight, do it with the boldness that only Mary could pull off," Smith shared with mourners.

Marshall's sister Meagan McCrickland shared a few words at the memorial. She said her sister would not want anyone to sad for too long.

"She'd tell you to take today, get it out, move on. She wanted you to live your life, and to love it," McCrickard said.

"She was one of the best people I have ever met in my life. And for the rest of my life, I intend to live up to her having chosen me," Steele said.

Questions still remain about the shooter, his motive, how he got access to firearms and whether his injuries on the day of the mass shooting were self-inflicted or came during a shootout with police before his capture.

Raleigh police released their five-day report a week after the shooting.