Marland Jeffries was born on October 13, 1938, in Newark, New Jersey, to Leola and Leonard Jeffries, Sr. He was their second son.
Growing up, family and friends lovingly called him “Puddin”. As a youngster, he found great joy in playing sports, especially baseball. At Barringer High School in Newark, he was a star. A scholarship to play college baseball would be in his future, but first came a stint in the armed service.
Marland enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957 and completed basic training at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was trained as a Morse Code Radio Intercept Operator. In 1959, he was stationed in Germany, where he “listened-in” on Russian communications emanating from behind the Iron Curtain. Marland received an Honorable discharge from the Air Force as an Airman Second Class in 1961.
The following year, he enrolled at Central State University in Xenia, Ohio, where he majored in social work, lettered in baseball, and pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. It was at Central where Marland met the love of his life, Laneda “Rozye” Gomes.
Marland graduated from Central in 1966, and married Rozye in 1967. The newlyweds settled in Brooklyn where they had two sons, Hakeem and Hasan.
Marland’s appreciation for the power of education led him to attain a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and his deep commitment to help those struggling with addiction led him to a fulfilling career as a substance abuse counselor for the State of New York.
Marland’s passions were many. He was energized by people – he was an active member of the Sterling Place Civic Association. He was animated by politics – he ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly as an upstart candidate in 1978. He enjoyed watching sports – in person and on television. He relished reading newspapers – all of them. And he delighted in playing chess – anywhere, anytime, and against anybody.
But it was martial arts that he loved the most. For him, it was a way of life. He began training in Universal GoJu in the early 1980s, and after nearly 40 years of uninterrupted study, Sensei Marland had achieved the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt.
Marland transitioned peacefully on December 31, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. He was 85 years old.
Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 56 years, Rozye; their two sons and their wives, Hakeem and Kennisandra, and Hasan and Rashida; their five grandchildren, Jeremiah, Joshua, Asha, Aliyana, and A’laila; his brother and sister-in-law, Leonard, Jr. and Rosalind; and a host of extended family and dear friends.
Marland will forever be remembered for his fierce determination, his philosophical approach to life, his dedication to serving others, and above all, his deep and abiding love for his family. May his soul find eternal peace and his spirit continue to shine upon us all.
My deepest condolences go out to the Jeffries family. Mr. Marland Jefferies was a pillar on our block and the Crown Heights community. He will be missed.
Deepest condolences from the Drummond-Oliver family. Mr.Jeffries was well respected on our block and an exemplar for our young adults in the community.
Ok thank uou
Sterling Place Civic Association is Missing a Member
The Members of the Sterling Place Civic Association (SPCA) would like to extend their deepest condolences to the Jeffries family. SPCA is our block Association for residents living on Sterling Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues in Brooklyn NY. We are a group of neighbors living in old, now landmarked brownstones, and dependent on each other for emotional fortitude. Mr. Marland Jeffries was one of the original members of the SPCA and had been a strong and active presence on the Block. In particular, he saw to it that our young ones knew where to go to learn to play chess, talk about ways to look at life creatively, and constructively, and to strategically plan for a better future. He would set up a chess board table in his front yard to teach a mind-expanding game that has stuck with our young ones to this day.
For more than 30 years, Marland Jeffries was on-point for the Sterling Place Civic Association’s annual block party / celebration. During the planning meetings leading up to the annual celebrations, Marland would attend to provide guidance on what to focus on, and how to plan to avoid issues with possible rowdy neighbors from other locales trying to be disruptive. He was a great guide and protective leader. Aspects of his children’s successes are testaments to the groundwork he laid for young people in his orbit.
Marland’s transition leaves a gap that is difficult to fill. But we have the memories of the things he and his family did to help this small community;, and we will use those memories to guide us as we go forward in these challenging times.
Sterling Place Civic Association
I don’t have the words to express the loss of our cousin Marland. He was a gentle giant in the family. Such a strong person with a teddy bear heart. We love you so much. Our family is truly grieving and sorry we can’t be there for the rest of the family. We are all praying for each other and there in spirit. Love cousin Patty.
My deepest and most sincere condolences to the Jeffries family. Wishing all of you peace, comfort and solace during this difficult time.
While no words can truly ease the pain of your loss, please remember that we are here for you.
The extended Johnson Family from Middelsex Co. VIRGINIA extends our condolences to the entire Jeffries family
On behalf of all of the members, volunteers and supporters of Women’s Press Collective (WPC) I offer our deepest condolences to the Jeffries family and all who were touched by Marland’s life.
Marland was a beloved member of WPC since 2008 and a member of our Board of Directors since 2019, adding his strength, his conviction, his perceptiveness, his humor, his history, his connections and his deep roots in the community to our cause.
Marland participated regularly in our community organizing. He staffed literature tables at public libraries, in front of supportive businesses and organized WPC’s participation in the International African Arts Festival held in Brooklyn each summer.
Marland attended WPC’s International Women’s Day celebration every year in March, typically bringing friends and family to fill a table at the event. He attended our 40th anniversary celebration, holiday parties, staff meetings, film showings and other special events throughout these past 15 years, volunteered to do mailings and phone calls and more.
Marland had a keen perceptiveness about people, offering support to others through his words and stories and his physical presence when needed. We will miss Marland terribly.
May loving memories of our cousin
Marland help us find peace and comfort.
A golden gaint heart missed. As we laid red carpets down on earth for him. The one he walks on now much
bigger. You live in our hearts forever.
We all love you
The Williams/Cohee family sends our condolences to the Jeffries family. When Jeff married our oldest cousin Rozye, he was an immediate hit! Intellectual, strong, yet with a gentle spirit! A great husband and dad, he served as the gold standard of who we should marry and welcome into our family. And many suitors simply didn’t meet the Jeff standard. When they did, we married them! Jeff will be missed but his spirit (and standard) lives on. #RestInPower ❤️
In the early 1990s, you accompanied Dr. Leonard Jeffries to SUNY-Binghamton where he gave a lecture. I was a graduate student at the time and helped with the security detail that night. I happened to mentioned to you that I had been (and still am) a student of the martial arts since I was six years old at which point you perked up and a conversation ensued. Anyway, I thought back to that night last week when I learned of your transition. Rest in Power Dear Sir. My heart goes out to your family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.
Ok thank you
Please accept my sincerest condolences on the passing of Mr. Marland Jeffries. May his name and memory be for blessings, and may his family be comforted by the many wonderful memories he leaves behind.
Hakeem,
I want to offer my condolences and deepest sympathy to you and your family. The passing of a loved one, particularly a father is never easy. But I hope your hearts can take solice in knowing he’s at peace with the Lord. The brothers of Omea Psi Phi will also be there to welcome him into Omega Chapter.
We are really going to miss You. Now the Angels will be watching over you and our memories’ are held within our hearts.
Vicki Malachi & Chris
My condolences to the Jeffries family. I will always remember how smart and loving he was to all of us. He raised two incredible men who are doing great things in life and for the nation. I love and will miss him dearly. I know God has welcomed you to his Kingdom and you will dwell there always.
Marland – I know you will “hear” this…. Thank you for raising such wonderful children, one being the (incredibly respectable) Minority Leader of the US House… Clearly who you are (and their mother of course) have influenced who your children became as adults…
I simply want to honor you for that… The Butterfly Effect is real and powerful…..
A no-one who has followed Hakeem from lovely California and KNOWS the early influence of parents.
Blessings and Peace.