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https://venue.streamspot.com/event/NDYxNTMyMQ== for viewing of the Celebration of Life

Marvin Leon Lake died peacefully March 27, 2024, at home with his wife of 41 years, Ruby A. Farrar-Lake, the

love of his life, best friend, and faithful caregiver. Born 1944 in Norfolk, Virginia, he was predeceased by his dear mother Audrey Marie Lake White, stepfather Charles White and brother Maurice A. Lake.

As a career journalist, his interests dated to junior high school where he was business manager for the Jacox

Journal in 1959. He was editor of The Clarion, Booker T. Washington's student newspaper.  For a brief period, he wrote a weekly column for The Journal and Guide.

After graduating college Marvin was drafted in 1967 and spent two years in the United States Army working in

the public information office producing the base newspaper at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.

M.L., as he's affectionately known, retired 2007 as the first African American reporter, editor and public editor

of The Virginian-Pilot, closing a 41-year career.  He was The Pilot's newsroom recruitment director for nine years and the Sunday Commentary editor simultaneously.  Marvin directed Landmark Communications year-long Minority Training Program, The Pilot's summer internship program and its Minority Journalism Workshop for high school students.

As a reporter, Marvin variously covered federal courts, education, Norfolk city government, politics and special

projects.  In 2005, his editorial, "Overdue Restitution," about a new state scholarship program for individuals

adversely impacted by Massive Resistance, won an Excel Award from the Hampton Roads Black Media

Professionals. A founding member and former president of HRBMP, he wrote a career-advice column,

"Career-Wise", for the National Association of Black Journalists journal.

For several years, Marvin programmed and produced a weekly radio jazz show, "Anything Goes'" on WOWI

(later 103-JAMZ).  In 1997, he conceived and edited the award-winning three-day Pilot series, "Church Street:

What Was Lost," about the one-time hub of black life in Hampton Roads.  He also conceived, hosted and

narrated the local PBS documentary "Church Street: Harlem of the South, a joint effort of The Pilot and

WHRO-TV, it won local, state and national awards.

A graduate of Norfolk State University with a degree in sociology and minor in psychology, Marvin was campus

newspaper editor and the first recipient of the NSU Department of Mass Communications and Journalism's

Excellence in Communications Award and the NSU Distinguished Alumni in Media Award.  Marvin taught as an

adjunct at NSU and a multiculturalism course at Hampton University.

Marvin was director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government and a long-time co-chair of the Virginia Press Association's Diversity Committee, conducting diversity training sessions.  In June 2001, he received

the George Mason Award from the Virginia Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for

significant  contributions to journalism in Virginia.  In 2007, he was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame.  In 2008, the National Association of Minority Media Executives presented him with its top

honor, the Robert G. Maynard Legend Award.

Active in the community, Marvin was project director for the City of Norfolk's 50th Anniversary of the End of

Massive Resistance Commemoration.  He helped develop a book about African American history in Norfolk.

Marvin was the president of the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center Inc., the vice president for planning and

operations of the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men Inc.  He was a longtime chair of the organization's

annual 200+ Scholars Breakfast honoring area African-American male high school graduates with a 3.0 or

better grade point average.

Marvin will be cherished by his wife; brother and constant talking "buddy" Warren Lake (Shirley); niece Dawn Lake; nephew Maurice A. Lake, Jr; "little brother Christopher Williams (Anne);  adopted son Leslie Brown (Luciana); goddaughters Keyonna Brown and Dr. Jacqueline Richelle Joe; godsons Justin Brown and Justin Strickland; special nephew Michael Farrar and daughter Mikayla Farrar; caring sisters-in-law Alois Crawford and Linda Farrar; seven brothers-in-law; best friends David Marshall and Daryl Strickland (Teer); friends; former associates and all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him.

In lieu of flowers, kindly donate in his honor to Norfolk State University, Shiloh Baptist Church Legacy Fund, or the Alzheimer's Association.