Marlene Lofton George Merchant was born on February 11, 1935 in East St Louis, Illinois to the loving parents, Theodore & Eliza Lofton. She was the second of nine sisters and brothers. Marlene graduated from P. L. Dunbar Elementary and attended St. Teresa Roman Catholic School in East St. Louis. She loved participating in art classes and home economics. She really used her talents that she learned. Marlene loved doing crafts, such as photo pillow arts. She loved to cook and will be missed for her lasagna, chicken and dressing, macaroni and cheese, soup pots and desserts. She confessed her love for Christ at an early age and was formerly a member of The New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Rev. Samuel Scribner, but later became a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Joliet, Illinois.

Marlene worked many jobs during her life. She worked for Lenox Hotel, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, Broadway Hotel in East St. Louis and various other companies in Joliet, IL. She began her career and faith in the order and fraternity of Eastern Star Daughters of Sphinx Alpha Court #7 of Chicago, Il, playing pokeno and dominos with her sister, Alice and "The Ladies" and train trips to visit her children and her sisters. Marlene met and married her first love, Odie F. George, Sr. and 8 children were born out of their love. Years later, she married R.B. (Bernard) Merchant, no children were born from this marriage. Mama held a variety of positions in the workforce. Her real passion was helping others which led to her receiving her CNA certification that she remained during her employment until her health began to fail. Mama was loved by all who knew her and she didn't mind helping anyone. She was known by many of our friends as Mama George. When she wasn't working, she did what she really loved and that was traveling. She kept her suitcases semi-packed. All you had to say was "Let's", and she'd have her bags by the door before you finished the sentence. We always teased her about it, telling her she was always on call for going somewhere. She was a very strong woman; she stayed strong for us, when we were trying to stay strong for her. She was the strongest person we knew. She was our "Hero".

Marlene embarked on her final journey on June 26, 2017. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, 2 sisters, 4 brothers, the father of her children, her second husband, one son, Eugene, two daughters, Brenda (Charles) and Felicia (Curtis),, 1 grandson, Yamar, Sr. and 1 granddaughter, Shaniece. She leaves to cherish her memories 5 children, Marcia (Mack) Williams of Milwaukee, WI, Maxine (Ricky) Williams of Wakosha, WI, Greta (Charles) Burns of Boulder, CO, Odie (Christine) George, Jr. of Belleville, IL and Freda (Van) Johnson of Milwaukee, WI; 21 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alice Burnette of East St. Louis, Il and Geraldine (Roosevelt) Dixon of Rochester, NY; three sisters-in-law, Johnnie, Bunny and Lou Bertha; host of nieces, nephews and numerous close family friends.