Henrietta H. Marshall, 89, active volunteer in many areas

Henrietta Harrison Marshall, 89, whose lifelong interest in population control and historic preservation were reflected in her many volunteer activities, died of pulmonary fibrosis Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Quadrangle in Haverford.

She was the widow of Julian McIlvaine Marshall, a descendant of U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall. Her husband, an advertising executive, died in 2000. They were married for 56 years.

Mrs. Marshall used her considerable energy and belief in the pro-choice rights of women to fuel a host of volunteer affiliations that endured for decades.

"They went on for 50 years. I can remember as a 10-year-old going with her to lick envelopes," said her daughter, Elizabeth Rodman Marshall.

Mrs. Marshall served on the board of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. for more than 30 years, and was the group's chairman in the 1970s. She was a board member of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, chairing it from 1975 to 1978.

She volunteered for the boards of the Alan Guttmacher Institute, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Population Institute, Marriage Council of Philadelphia, Population Crisis Committee, and Advocates of Youth.

"She cared about overpopulation and trying to reduce it," her daughter said.

Mrs. Marshall's interest in history and old buildings found expression in her volunteer work with the boards of the Strawberry Mansion, Stenton Mansion, and National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

She had become familiar with her family history, and felt it was important for everyone to understand their own heritages, her daughter said.

She also served as president of the Acorn Club in Philadelphia and with the Committee of 1926, the administrative trust for Strawberry Mansion since the house was opened to the public in 1931.

Most recently, her daughter said, Mrs. Marshall served on the board of Sulgrave Manor, George Washington's ancestral home in Northamptonshire, England, which is being restored. She became aware of the project through her work with the Colonial Dames.

In 1976, Mrs. Marshall received the Human Rights Award from the city of Philadelphia for her efforts in the field of family planning.

"She was a strong, committed, dedicated lady," her daughter said.

Mrs. Marshall was born in Philadelphia, the oldest daughter of Joseph Harrison, Jr. and Lucretia Heckscher Harrison. She lived in Haverford before retiring to the Quadrangle with her husband 18 years ago.

A graduate of the Haverford Friends School, she went on to complete her studies at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. Later, she became a board member for Shipley.

Surviving, besides her daughter, are sons John Randolph and Stevens Heckscherand another daughter, Julia Marshall Milone; two brothers; a sister; 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A life celebration will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Merion Cricket Club, Montgomery Avenue and Grays Lane, Haverford. Burial is private.

Donations may be made to Friends of Sulgrave Manor c/o Mrs. William Schaaf, Jr., 1553 Hill Road Court, Louisville, Ky. 40204, or the Institute Foundation c/o Mr. Joseph McKenna, Jr., 323 S. Fairfield Rd., Devon, Pa. 19333.