Sgt. Justin Cameron Marquez, of Aberdeen, died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, as a result of wounds received from small-arms fire while on foot patrol in the Chak district of Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
He joined the Army in January 2009, and this was in the first month of his first deployment. He received the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab awards during his short time of service to his country.
Justin was born March 25, 1987, in Salem, Mass., and moved to North Carolina when he was 2 months old. He started school at LaGrange Elementary in LaGrange, later attending Carthage and Aberdeen elementary schools for a short time after moving to Moore County. He was in the first graduating class of Southern Middle School. He graduated from Pinecrest High School in 2005 and attended Sandhills Community College and Pembroke University before enlisting in the U.S. Army in January 2009. He was stationed at Fort Bragg but did his basic and airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga.
Justin is survived by his parents, Mark and Terry Marquez, of Aberdeen; twin brother, Drew Cameron Marquez, of Aberdeen; maternal grandmother, Magaline Thomas Cameron, of Greensboro; paternal grandparents, Ben and Rita Shumate, of Wilmington; aunts and uncles Tresa and Scott Bedson, Michael Marquez and Nancy Busnack, and Emily Shumate, all of Wilmington, Michael and Julia Shumate, of Atlanta, Sonny and Libby Shumate, of Jacksonville, Tammy and Robert Smith, of Browns Summit, and Debbie and Joe Lambeth, of Greensboro; and first cousins, Ashley Lambeth Clarke, Daniel Lambeth, Shannon Smith Stout, Jordan Smith, Blake Bedson, Kourtney Kassube, Danny, Mikey and Chris Geribo all of North Carolina. He was also survived by his girlfriend, Stephanie Moore, of Pinehurst, and many other relatives from Sanford, Lillington, Wilmington, Jacksonville and Syracuse, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Daniel Archie Cameron, of Greensboro; his paternal grandfather, Ray Marquez, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; his maternal great-grandmother, Berta Thomas, of Olivia; and his paternal great-grandmothers, Olga B. Snoots, of Wilmington, and Ida Marquez, of Syracuse, N.Y.
Justin will be returned to the Moore County Airport in Carthage on Sunday, Oct. 14, where an honor guard will escort him from the plane.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Boles Funeral Home, in Southern Pines. A funeral service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at the historical Bethesda Presbyterian Church, on Bethesda Road in Aberdeen, with graveside service and burial to follow in Bethesda Cemetery. The Patriot Guards will be on duty to protect mourners from protestors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Sgt. Justin Cameron Marquez to your favorite charity.
On line condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.