Marion Barbee Merritt

Carrboro - Marion Barbee Merritt, 73, passed away January 22, 2021. Marion was born on May 27, 1947 in Durham, NC the eldest son of the late MB and Margaret Barbee Merritt. He graduated from Chapel Hill High School, where he was a member of the Wildcat football team that played for the state championship. He proudly served his country in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, where he was a member of his ships basketball team. After his military service, Marion attended Seminole Junior College, where he played basketball. He finished his education at UNC-Chapel Hill. Marion was a longtime journalist in North Carolina, with a special love and talent as a sports writer. He was a longtime member of Antioch Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. He is survived by his wife, Kendra Van Pelt Merritt; stepson, Michael Van Pelt; brothers, Thomas Merritt, and his wife, Bobbie, Ronald Merritt, and his wife, Pat Huff, Michael Merritt, and his wife Vickie Sessions; several nieces, nephews, and cousins, whom he all loved. Marion was very pround of the extended families of his late grandparents, Carl and Eleanor Merritt, and Paul and Pearl Barbee. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Antioch Baptist Church, 1707 White Cross Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will have private services to celebrate Marion's life. The Merritt family is under the care of Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.