Marion Posey

Dr. J. Marion Posey, Ph.D., CPA, age 78, passed away on March 22, 2016 in Birmingham, Alabama after a brief illness. Marion was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 6, 1937. He is preceded in death by his parents Elmo & Ruth Posey and brother David Posey. He is survived by his wife Ann Posey, his children Joshua Posey (Brenda), Elizabeth Singer (Scott), Cynthia Huey, John Gray (Jerri), Michael Gray (Melinda); his 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; as well as his sister Betty Caple (Thomas) and brother John Posey (Katherine).

Marion attended the University of Arkansas where he earned BA, MBA and a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration degrees. He joined the faculty of the Culverhouse College of Commerce, School of Accountancy at The University of Alabama. During his tenure at Alabama, he launched numerous successful accounting and business careers in both the public and private sectors, including academia.

Marion was an extremely talented, caring, enthusiastic, and passionate professor and mentor who was both respected and revered by his students. He loved his students and worked hard to make them the best that they could be. Marion retired as Professor Emeritus at Pace University in New York City. He was very proud of his work as a regional director and faculty advisor of Beta Alpha Psi, the prestigious accounting society sanctioned by the Association of Accredited Colleges and Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier business school accrediting body in the world. Through his vision and leadership, he personally guided several Beta Alpha Psi chapters to be recognized (on a repetitive basis) as the annual top chapter in the world -- the equivalent of winning the World Series in baseball. Prior to his tenure at Pace University, Marion was the National Director of Tax Recruiting for Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche) in New York City.

Marion was the recipient of numerous honors and awards related to his work with students, including the Alumni of the Year Award, Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, and the Pace University Award for Teaching Excellence. Marion also was the first recipient of the Pace University Distinguished Service Award.

Throughout his career, Marion was an active member in numerous professional organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the American Accounting Association (AAA). Marion periodically authored and taught professional development courses for the AICPA for accounting educators and practioners. Among other things, he is remembered by his students and seminar participants for his ability to take extremely complex accounting and tax topics and make them simple and understandable without losing their meaning, while periodically injecting sly bits of humor into his lectures and presentations to keep things light. In actuality, the real reason was to make sure everyone was listening! Ultimately, Marion’s students, colleagues, and friends always will remember him as an extremely generous, caring, superb scholar and friend.

In retirement, Marion and Ann left the northland and returned to their Southern roots to be closer to their children and grandchildren. However, retirement did not mean life slowed down for the Poseys. He and Ann purchased an RV, and set out to see the country for months at a time. They visited all but three states in the continental U.S. Marion was an active member of the Monaco America RV Club, and enjoyed visiting with many of the RV enthusiasts at rallies where he was invited to speak about many of his life experiences, including living in New Jersey and working in New York City on 9/11. Serendipitously, Marion rode a commuter train to Pace University every day of the work week, arriving and departing the World Trade Center. Fortuitously, he miraculously escaped involvement in both attacks because of illness…the only two times he missed during his tenure at Pace.

Marion thoroughly enjoyed life, especially visiting with family and friends, including the members of his church community at First United Methodist Church of Alabaster, where he was an active member. He genuinely loved his family and friends and the occasion didn’t matter, whether it was a birthday or other event—it was the communion with others that was special and that he encouraged. Marion relished fishing off his private dock with his children and grandchildren, and feeding fish he caught to “Big Bird,” his pet heron. Marion also enjoyed watching college football—especially the Crimson Tide. Marion truly was a member of the Alabama Nation. Roll Tide, Marion!

Marion was indeed the “salt of the earth”. He will be dearly missed by all who had the good fortune to interact with him, whether they be family, friends, acquaintances, or complete strangers in need of a helping hand from a Good Samaritan. Marion was that caring, kind-hearted, thoughtful human being. His intellect, his kindness, his sense of humor and his contagious smile will be missed by all who knew him.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 28, 2016 at the Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens in Hoover, AL. Visitation will be held before the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at http://www.themmrf.org/donate-to-mmrf/

Visitation

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM ,Monday, March 28, 2016
Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home Chapel
2701 John Hawkins Parkway Hoover, AL 35244

Chapel

11:00 AM ,Monday, March 28, 2016
Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home Chapel
2701 John Hawkins Parkway Hoover, AL 35244