Marvin Athelston Crowson

Searcy resident Marvin Athelston Crowson—loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, cousin, and friend of all—died July 4, 2025, at Harding Place in Searcy, Arkansas. Marvin was born in Bratt, Florida, on June 9, 1939, the son of Athel and Eva Crowson. He spent his childhood years in Bratt, Florida; Ukiah, California; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he graduated from high school. He was a graduate of Harding College, class of 1962, with a degree in public speaking. While at Harding, he met and married his wife, Judith. After college, they served the Lord together in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, as well as internationally in Jamaica and British Columbia. In these places, Marvin served as a pulpit preacher, teacher, missionary, youth minister, evangelist, educational director, minister, and congregational elder. Marvin and Judith had two children, Murphy and Georgia, both born in Kingston, Jamaica, while they served as missionaries for nine years. With Jerry and Linda Thompson and Milo Hadwin, Marvin and Judith started a new congregation in the Mona Heights area of Kingston, which continues to meet and worship God to this day. They also served the Jamaica School of Preaching and Biblical Studies, which was started in 1970 and is still operating today with all Caribbean staff. From 1983 to 1999, Marvin worked in the public and private sectors as a corporate development trainer and consultant with Judith through their company, Awareness and Development. He worked with companies such as the National Speakers Association, Chrysler, USDA Soil Conservation Service, Mazda, General Motors, Life Associates Consulting, Colorado Department of Social Services, and Fort Worth Distributing Company. Marvin also worked nine years at South Coast Air Quality Management District in Los Angeles, California, as a Team Development Consultant. From 1999 to 2001, he served with Agape Child and Family Services in Memphis, Tennessee. Following his time in Memphis, he served eighteen years as a Harding University Missionary in Residence in the Domestic Vocational Missions Program, retiring in 2019. Since his retirement he enjoyed being a husband, father, grandfather, and walking with his beloved Bichon Frise, Popcorn, while living in Legacy Park and Harding Place in Searcy, Arkansas. Known as Marvin to friends and family, and as Papa Dear to his seven grandchildren, Marvin loved the Lord with all his heart and embodied the Lord Jesus’ words: “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” Those who know Marvin will quickly recognize one of his favorite questions, “How can I help you?” His legacy of faith and service lives on through his children, grandchildren, and the many he served. Marvin was preceded in death by his wife, Judith Crowson (March 2024), and his sister, LaVern Beach (December 2018). He is survived by his children, Murphy Crowson and Christine of Texas, and Georgia Wolfe and Todd of Colorado Springs, Colorado; by his grandchildren, Stephen, Daniel, Matthew (and wife Molly), Anna, Nicole, Benjamin, and RaeAn; and by his sister, Marilee Coker (and husband Bob). Memorial donations in memory and honor of Marvin can be made to Downtown Church of Christ Missions. To give online visit https://dcoc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/missions-discretionary

Marvin Athelston Crowson

June 9, 1939 - July 4, 2025