MARK ARMSTEAD

Mark Armstead, born October 3, 1947 to Mark and Mary Armstead in Forkland, Alabama, ran his race and took his final lap transitioning into eternal peace with the Lord on Friday, July 5, 2019.

A graduate of the Greene County Training School in Boligee, Alabama, Mark came to Canton, Ohio in 1967 where he began working at Eppys Chevrolet in the detailing department, soon becoming the auto body supervisor. He had subsequent jobs working in the automotive business which led him to his dream of becoming the owner of his own destiny, which he did by starting his own auto body and reconditioning business in 1985, where he serviced thousands of customers over a span of 19 years, leaving the business in 2004. While he left the practice, he continued to give sound automotive advice and build relationships with friends, and family, he never met a stranger. An avid fisherman, you would often find him out on the lake with buddies. He also had a deep spiritual connection with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He initially became a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Joe Anderson and more recently a dedicated member of Union Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Sherman Martin until his health made it difficult to do so. In more recent years, subsequent to retiring from his dedicated life of providing automotive related services, his new first love became his grandchildren. You would often find him hanging out in his front yard or near his patio, cheering on the grandbabies as they play outside, just enjoying some grandad time.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mark and Mary Armstead, and  siblings; Lucille Bryant, George Armstead, Theresa Byrd, Frank Armstead, and Theodore Armstead.

Left to cherish his memory is his children, Marc (Demica) Armstead, and Tara (Eddie) Hampton; grandchildren, Marc, Cadence, and Aubri Armstead, and Isaiah and Josiah Hampton, all of Canton, Ohio; fiancée, Robyn Bell; honorary step-son, Alex Gordon; honorary grandchildren, LaToya “Skinny Minnie” Young of Massillon, Ohio, and  Maggie Bell of Sandy Springs,   Georgia; ex-wife and mother of his children; Shirley Armstead of Canton, Ohio; siblings, Henry (Lettie) Armstead of Demopolis, Alabama, Fannie (Charles) Hall of Demopolis, Alabama, Mary Armstead of Chicago, Illinois, and Freddie (Dorothy) Armstead of Demopolis, Alabama; sister-in-law,  Ovetta Armstead of Green County-Forkland, Alabama; close friends, Freddy Burton, Timothy Duff, Niel Hardy, Nate Jackson, Norm Wheeler, John Thomas, and Ira Turner as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends whom he sincerely adored.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of MARK ARMSTEAD, please visit our floral store.