John Alexander Marion III

John Alexander Marion III, age 81, of York, South Carolina, went to the Lord on October 4, 2025, after a long illness. He was being cared for by the Battlefield Healthcare Center in Petersburg, Virginia. He resided in Petersburg for many years after traveling and working abroad and in the local area.

He was born in Washington, D.C., on January 26, 1944, to John Alexander Marion II, and Rebecca Salley Marion He was their only child. He attended William and Mary with a degree in journalism and later attended University of South Carolina with a Masters degree in English.

His career included teaching English and Drama at a private high school in Richmond, was an actor in local stage plays, adjunct college instructor in South Carolina and Virginia, and taught English to deployed sailors onboard U.S. Navy ships abroad. He was a writer for advertising agencies for business and travel, was editor and reviewer on theatre and the arts, and a technical manuals writer for Defense Logistics Agency in Petersburg, Virginia.

A former Episcopalian, he converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 2001 and was active in music, prayer, healing and pro-life ministries. John was a kind and generous soul, loved life, was a true gentleman and was very devoted to Our Blessed Mother Mary. He will be fondly remembered and missed by family and many friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents; and uncles, Francis Marion and Andrew Burnet Marion. He is survived by cousins, Mary Burnet Johnston, Alexander Douglas Marion and Francis Marion, Jr. of Greenville, South Carolina; and Helen Marion Molten and Andrew Burnet Marion, Jr. of Columbia, South Carolina.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on October 8, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the Saint Joseph Catholic Church commons at 151 W. Washington Street, Petersburg VA. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m., and burial will be at the Saint Joseph Cemetery, 535 Crater Road in Petersburg VA.