Obituary of Marilyn Y. Salley

Mrs. Marilyn Yvonne Salley entered into eternal rest on August 19, 2019 at the peaceful Center for Hope in Scotch Plains, N.J with her husband by her side. She was the daughter of the late Alpheus Testamark and Mamita Matthias both of the Virgin Islands.

Marilyn was born on July 16, 1939 in New York City’s Harlem Hospital. She attended the public schools of New York City and at an early age she was confirmed at the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Marilyn graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1957 and later completed her studies to be become a certified dietitian and believe me she really knew how to get to a man’s stomach. Yes, the kitchen was her domain.
Marilyn and her husband Terry met while he was on leave while in the U.S. Marine Corps. Later on they eloped and was married in Elkton, Maryland on September 8, 1962.

Of this union of 56 years; they had 3 daughters Mrs. Terrell Salley-Holliman, Mrs. Stacy M. Salley-Proctor and Ms. Towanda U. Salley. Their daughters had 7 grandkids and in turn they produced 4 great grandchildren.

Grandma’s grandchildren Kaya, Keyana, Janel, Taylor, Demetrius, Austin and Vaughn made her happy, laugh and smile. GG’s kids Shaun, Miraj, Ricardo Jr. and Erin stole her heart. 

Her nieces and nephews (Cheryl, Joanne, Stephanie, Rick and John) who respected and loved their Auntie dearly.

Marilyn’s’ brothers Vladimir Testamark, Lawrence George, Leroy Testamark and sister Adrienne Keyes have preceded her in death.

We may have lost her for now, but we have many memories to last us a lifetime to keep her close in our hearts.

To all of our family and friends near and far who knew Marilyn knows that she was an angel on earth and she will always be Terry’s lovely, gracious, patient, witty and spunky Earth Angel.

She was her own businesswoman. She excelled at anything she put her mind to in order to make her dollars; from baking cakes, making dinners to selling Avon to Tupperware. She made it happen and all her daughters have a bit of that hustler in them.

Whether you were hers or not you were loved as well as fed.