Meriden, NH – The Reverend Gregory Wayne Marshall, 79, of Meriden, New Hampshire, passed away on October 15, 2026. Through ministry, education, and the arts, Greg devoted his life to building bridges between people. He deeply believed and richly demonstrated that one person can make a difference in waging peace and sowing love.
Greg was born on January 23, 1947, to Ernest and Fay Marshall and raised in West Chester, PA, with his younger sister, Donna. His family valued faith and education, and he came of age during the civil rights movement and Vietnam War, experiences that profoundly shaped his lifelong commitment to justice and peace.
His connection to the Upper Valley began at Dartmouth, where he sang in the Glee Club and graduated in 1968 with a degree in chemistry. He earned a Master of Education from Stanford in 1970 and later taught in Illinois. Feeling called to ministry, he earned a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Seminary in 1974.
In 1969, Greg married Kathy Bovenkerk, whom he met in Sunday school. They built a family together before separating 25 years later. Their children, Jill and Kevin, were born in Bangor, ME, where Greg served as assistant minister at All Souls Congregational Church. From 1980 to 1986, he served as minister of the Meriden Congregational Church in NH, where he was named Minister Emeritus in 2023.
Greg continued serving many local congregations as an interim minister and was sought after for his creative and inspiring sermons. From 1994 to 2001, he worked at Geographic Data Technology in Lebanon, where he trained mapping technicians. In the later years of his career, he worked in hospice and hospital chaplaincy in NM, VT, ME, and most recently at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
Greg’s commitment to building bridges extended far beyond his professional life. During the Cold War, he joined other United Church of Christ clergy in founding US-USSR Bridges for Peace, believing that Americans and Soviets who knew one another would recognize their shared humanity. His 1981 visit to the Soviet Union laid the groundwork for exchanges that eventually reached communities across the United States. Over three decades and at least 14 trips, he nurtured those connections, welcomed visiting delegations, and taught Russian at Plainfield Elementary School. He also helped welcome Cambodian and Indonesian immigrants to the Upper Valley.
In the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks, Greg again felt called to bridge differences. He visited schools in both Russia and the US, carrying a message of peace that the children inherently understood. As he put it, “People harmed in conflict are real people. … They are not something separate from you.” He later served as interim chaplain at the VA Hospital in White River Junction, where he learned from veterans about their experiences of war. Even as he supported their healing, he continued to see war as a last resort. In 2007, he joined other clergy in Washington, D.C., and was arrested for peaceful civil disobedience in protest of the Iraq War.
Greg also found powerful ways to bring people together through music and theater. An accomplished singer and actor, he shared his beautiful tenor voice in the Handel Society and Revels North. A founding cast member and longtime leader of the Meriden Players, he especially loved playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
Greg wrote four plays, including Our Town, Too!, celebrating Plainfield’s theater history, and Samantha’s Stars, performed by the Meriden Players in 2008. The latter told the story of Samantha Smith, the Maine schoolgirl whose letter to Soviet leadership led to a visit that became an enduring example of citizen diplomacy and individual peacebuilding. For Greg, Samantha’s story demonstrated that anyone of us, armed with curiosity and courage, could help change the world.
Greg also spoke openly about his experiences with depression. Through his ministry and the arts, he used his own struggles to help others feel less alone. His reflections were marked by honesty and humor, along with an enduring belief in hope and human connection.
Greg’s life reflected a conviction that meaningful change begins when ordinary people decide to do something. Those who loved him, saw him perform, or heard him preach carry forward his invitation to action and compassion.
Greg ended each written sermon with the words: “To the glory of God for the congregation gathered,” and so we say, “To the glory of God, for the congregation gathered in witness to Greg’s life, love, and contributions.”
Greg is predeceased by his parents and brother-in-law, John Barnes. He is survived by his daughter Jill Marshall (Sean Teehan) of Meriden, NH; his son Kevin Marshall (Kiley Flint) and his grandson Hayes of Crested Butte, CO; his sister Donna Barnes of Bear, DE; and his niece Amy Barnes (Justin Holmes) and their son Elijah of Bear, DE. His family would like to thank everyone who showed compassion to Greg and recognized his gifts.
A memorial service will be held at Meriden Congregational Church, with details to be announced soon. Gifts in Greg’s memory can be made to his beloved Meriden Congregational Church, PO Box 187, Meriden, NH 03770.
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