Marcus Cumbie

Marcus Edward Cumbie, 89, of Grove Hill, passed away April 6, 2016 at Grove Hill Memorial Hospital. He was born November 5, 1926 near Brooklyn in Conecuh County to Carroll Sanders Cumbie and Nell Robinson Cumbie.


A graduate of Red Level High School in 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was honorably discharged in June 1946. He then attended Troy State University before becoming a graduate of Gradwohl School of Laboratory and X-Ray Technology in October 1949.


Cumbie enjoyed a long history with Grove Hill Memorial Hospital. Dr. Ralph Neal, Sr., hired him in 1949 to set up the first laboratory in the old hospital. He also worked at other hospitals in Mississippi and Alabama before taking a job at Searcy Hospital in Mount Vernon where he and his wife worked for 13 years before moving back to Grove Hill. He served briefly at GHMH as administrator, lab tech and x-ray tech before settling on a permanent position as head of the laboratory where he worked until his retirement in 1988.


He was recognized in 1985 for more than 30 years of dedicated service to the Alabama State Society of American Medical Technology and was presented the National Distinguished Service Award by the American Medical Technology Association in July 1986.


He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved to garden and paint. He 2012, he wrote and published a book entitled All Roads Got Forks, a work set in Conecuch County loosely based on his childhood friendship with Cephas, and African-American boy.


He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Laura Baugh Cumbie. They worked together for numerous years at both GHMH and Searcy Hospital. Their children are Annell Cumbie (William Stephen) Gordon of Grove Hill and Susan Cumbie Stephens of Petal, Miss. Other survivors include grandchildren, Marcus L. (Dana) Gordon, Rachel Ann Gordon (Robert Charles) Garrison, Susan Ellen Gordon (Franklin Brett) Pettis, Melissa Carol Stephens (John Lee) Taylor and Staci Laura Stephens (Mitchell) Hughes; great-grandchildren, Samuel Gordon, Charles Gordon Garrison, Annie Vivian Garrison, Stephen Roger Pettis, John Clayton Pettis, Molly Emma Pettis, Stephens Randall Taylor, Catherine Diane Taylor and Braxton William Goff.


Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Grove Hill United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Pearson officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Magnolia Lawn Cemetery in Grove Hill with Lathan Funeral Home directing.


Pallbearers will be Brett Pettis, Marcus Gordon, Rob Garrison, John Taylor, Stephens Taylor and Mitch Hughes. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Ralph Neal, Jr., Robert E. Baugh, the members of the Feagin-Wilson Sunday School class at Grove Hill United Methodist Church and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins from the Cumbie and Baugh familes.


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Regional Child Advocacy Center in Grove Hill, the Grove Hill American Legion Auxillary Unit 116 for Girls State Fund (not tax deductible) or the Grove Hill Cultural Arts Center.


Online condolences may be offered at www.lathanfuneralhomegrovehill.com.