Marvin Tanksley Albany, New York Obituary

Marvin Tanksley

<div> <div><span style="font-size:18px;"><em><strong>Marvin Tanksley</strong></em></span> <em><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>of Albany, New York was born on March 9, 1936 in Harlem, Georgia to the late Leroy Tanksley and&nbsp; Emily Allen Tanksley.&nbsp; He was the third born of the four children blessed to this union.</strong></span></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><b style="font-size: 16px;">Emily Allen Tanksley passed away in 1941, leaving her husband to care for five-year-old Marvin and his three siblings. The oldest, Samuel, joined the Air Force in 1948, leaving Marvin and James (&ldquo;Lubee&rdquo;), the second oldest, and their baby sister, Robbie, to help their father with the family farm.&nbsp; Marvin was educated in the Georgia Public School </b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>System,</b></span><b style="font-size: 16px;">&nbsp;and he completed his education in Albany, NY.&nbsp; Marvin and Lubee often talked about their dream of moving from the Deep South to the north to build a better life.&nbsp; Taking the leap forward, Marvin moved to Albany in 1955 and lived with Samuel, his wife, Ethel, and their family.&nbsp; Lubee and Robbie also moved to Albany, firmly planting the Tanksley family&rsquo;s new roots.&nbsp; But a family story must also include a love story.&nbsp; Soon after arriving in Albany, Marvin met the love of his life, Annis Newman.&nbsp; She was the quintessential girl next door...literally. Annis had recently moved from Virgina and resided with her sister, Mary, her husband, Ernest, and their family, who lived next door to Samuel.&nbsp; The young courtship </b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>blossomed,</b></span><b style="font-size: 16px;">&nbsp;and the beautiful couple married on July 19, 1956.</b></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Marvin and Annis started a family with the birth of three sons, Sanfort, Ronnie and Kevin.&nbsp; They settled into a loving home on Catherine Street in Albany, nestled amongst other families who migrated from the South. Later, they moved to Pearl St. where the baby girl, Sonia, was born and then to Grand St., their lifelong home where priceless memories were created. Marvin&rsquo;s and Annis&rsquo; love story lasted 62 years until Annis&rsquo; passing in 2019.</strong></span></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Marvin was dedicated to any position he held, which included working as a truck driver for Albany Asphalt.&nbsp; He later became an entrepreneur and successful owner of a trucking company and a retail liquor store, which operated as a family business where his 3 sons and brother, Samuel, worked.&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></span></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Marvin was also loyal to his community. Serving as Albany&rsquo;s first African American Alderman with the Common Council, beginning in 1969 and spanning almost 15 years, was one of his proudest titles. He had longstanding membership in the Albany Chamber of Commerce and served on the Committee for Beautification of the South Mall Area.&nbsp; He was a member of the International Masons, holding the title of Worshipful Master of the Sons of Isaac Lodge No. 35, while Annis was a member of the Order of Eastern Stars.&nbsp;</strong></span></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><b style="font-size: 16px;">Marvin was a faithful servant at Union Missionary Baptist Church.&nbsp; He served as a Trustee for nearly 50 years, including several terms as Chairman of the Trustee Board.&nbsp; He carried out his duties as Trustee with the highest level of stewardship.&nbsp; &nbsp;He was also a member of the Church Men&rsquo;s Club, serving two terms as Vice-President.&nbsp; Marvin&rsquo;s faith was his guiding </b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>light,</b></span><b style="font-size: 16px;">&nbsp;and his church fiduciary duties were part of his Earthly calling.&nbsp; He developed many lifelong friendships and garnered great respect from his work in the church.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Above all, Marvin&rsquo;s greatest role was as a husband and father.&nbsp; Marvin was proud of his ability to work hard, take care of his family, ensure that his children were educated and encourage his children to know and love God. His guiding principles were simple and firmly rooted in the notion that hard work, love of God and family would produce a life worth living.</strong></span></em></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em><b style="font-size: 16px;">Marvin is survived by his children, Sanfort, Ronnie (</b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>Judi)</b></span><b style="font-size: 16px;">, Kevin (Beverly) and Sonia; 8 Grandchildren: Samia, Alana, Sanfort, II, Kevin Quinton, Dashanna, Jaelyn, Jewel and Razi; 13 Great Grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Annis; siblings: Samuel (Ethel, deceased), James (Bernice) and Robbie S. Green; </b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>stepmother</b></span><b style="font-size: 16px;">, Annie Lizzie Tanksley; </b><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b>stepbrother</b></span><b style="font-size: 16px;">, Alvin Bivens.</b></em></div> </div>
March 9, 1936 - January 6, 202203/09/193601/06/2022
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Obituary

Marvin Tanksley of Albany, New York was born on March 9, 1936 in Harlem, Georgia to the late Leroy Tanksley and  Emily Allen Tanksley.  He was the third born of the four children blessed to this union.
 
Emily Allen Tanksley passed away in 1941, leaving her husband to care for five-year-old Marvin and his three siblings. The oldest, Samuel, joined the Air Force in 1948, leaving Marvin and James (“Lubee”), the second oldest, and their baby sister, Robbie, to help their father with the family farm.  Marvin was educated in the Georgia Public School System, and he completed his education in Albany, NY.  Marvin and Lubee often talked about their dream of moving from the Deep South to the north to build a better life.  Taking the leap forward, Marvin moved to Albany in 1955 and lived with Samuel, his wife, Ethel, and their family.  Lubee and Robbie also moved to Albany, firmly planting the Tanksley family’s new roots.  But a family story must also include a love story.  Soon after arriving in Albany, Marvin met the love of his life, Annis Newman.  She was the quintessential girl next door...literally. Annis had recently moved from Virgina and resided with her sister, Mary, her husband, Ernest, and their family, who lived next door to Samuel.  The young courtship blossomed, and the beautiful couple married on July 19, 1956.
 
Marvin and Annis started a family with the birth of three sons, Sanfort, Ronnie and Kevin.  They settled into a loving home on Catherine Street in Albany, nestled amongst other families who migrated from the South. Later, they moved to Pearl St. where the baby girl, Sonia, was born and then to Grand St., their lifelong home where priceless memories were created. Marvin’s and Annis’ love story lasted 62 years until Annis’ passing in 2019.
 
Marvin was dedicated to any position he held, which included working as a truck driver for Albany Asphalt.  He later became an entrepreneur and successful owner of a trucking company and a retail liquor store, which operated as a family business where his 3 sons and brother, Samuel, worked.  
 
Marvin was also loyal to his community. Serving as Albany’s first African American Alderman with the Common Council, beginning in 1969 and spanning almost 15 years, was one of his proudest titles. He had longstanding membership in the Albany Chamber of Commerce and served on the Committee for Beautification of the South Mall Area.  He was a member of the International Masons, holding the title of Worshipful Master of the Sons of Isaac Lodge No. 35, while Annis was a member of the Order of Eastern Stars. 
 
Marvin was a faithful servant at Union Missionary Baptist Church.  He served as a Trustee for nearly 50 years, including several terms as Chairman of the Trustee Board.  He carried out his duties as Trustee with the highest level of stewardship.   He was also a member of the Church Men’s Club, serving two terms as Vice-President.  Marvin’s faith was his guiding light, and his church fiduciary duties were part of his Earthly calling.  He developed many lifelong friendships and garnered great respect from his work in the church.  
 
Above all, Marvin’s greatest role was as a husband and father.  Marvin was proud of his ability to work hard, take care of his family, ensure that his children were educated and encourage his children to know and love God. His guiding principles were simple and firmly rooted in the notion that hard work, love of God and family would produce a life worth living.
 
Marvin is survived by his children, Sanfort, Ronnie (Judi), Kevin (Beverly) and Sonia; 8 Grandchildren: Samia, Alana, Sanfort, II, Kevin Quinton, Dashanna, Jaelyn, Jewel and Razi; 13 Great Grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Annis; siblings: Samuel (Ethel, deceased), James (Bernice) and Robbie S. Green; stepmother, Annie Lizzie Tanksley; stepbrother, Alvin Bivens.

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Events

Jan
15
Visitation
Saturday, January 15 2022
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Union Missionary Baptist Church
3 Morton, Ave
Albany, NY 12202
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Jan
15
Celebration of Life
Saturday, January 15 2022
11:00 AM
Union Missionary Baptist Church
3 Morton, Ave
Albany, NY 12202
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