THE GAINESVILLE SUN
Gainesville, Florida
Monday, October 10, 2016


William Marvin Gresham passed away suddenly Friday, October 7, succumbing to congestive heart failure at the age of 87. Marvin was born in Lincolntown, Georgia, July 4, 1929. He was the second of four sons born to John Fuller Gresham and Myrtle Rogers. His family moved to Bunnell, Florida in 1933 where his father was a turpentine rider then farmer. Growing up during the Depression, Marvin didn't own his first pair of shoes until he was eight years old. From an early age he was determined to rise above his humble beginnings. 

He graduated from Bunnell High School in a class of eleven people and was accepted into the University of Florida, the first in his family to attend college. Marvin had a life changing experience when he was hitchhiking to Gainesville. He was given a ride by Dr. Harold Hume, then Dean of the College of Agriculture, who advised him to study pharmacy or forestry. After working summers as a surveyor's assistant he chose pharmacy for the air-conditioned surroundings. Years later that advice led to the creation of Gresham Drugs, an area drug store chain that grew to seven stores. 

After graduating, Marvin began his career serving as a pharmacy lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He had married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Ann Wray, during his senior year in college. When he left the military, the family moved to St. Augustine where he impressed the owner of the drugstore there with his work ethic in the first six months and was invited to become a partner. 

In 1953 Marvin came to Gainesville as the co-owner and pharmacist of McDonald-Gresham Drugs, located downtown at 12 W. University Avenue. Known for his dedication and willingness to help people, he was often called 'Dr. Gresham' by many of his customers. Working 12-18 hour days, he once said he worked so hard not so much because he desired success, but because he was afraid to fail. He also admitted he loved what he did. 

Always looking for opportunities, Marvin opened the first gift shop at Shands Teaching Hospital which included the rental of TVs before they were standard in patient rooms. He also operated the cosmetic department at the Belk-Lindsey department store on Main Street with just a hand-shake agreement with Mr. Lindsey. 

Over the next four decades as Gresham Drugs grew, so did Marvin's community involvement. He became president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Rotary Club, Jaycees Man of the Year, a board member for Alachua General Hospital, First Union (Wacovia) Bank, and the UF College of Pharmacy, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees for Santa Fe Community College for over 40 years. 

Marvin was a Deacon for First Baptist Church and was involved in countless local charities. He also served as the national president for Affiliated Drug Stores. 

Marvin will be remembered as someone with a generous, caring spirit who always treated people with kindness. He served people of all races at his drugstore lunch counter and often extended credit to those unable to pay. He was always available to help friends or family in financial need. 

He was a proud member of the Eastside Garden Club, a group dedicated to fishing rain or shine. Marvin and Peggy owned several vacation homes first on Cowpen Lake then in St. Augustine where they enjoyed fishing and boating, but mostly entertaining their family and friends. 

Marvin's wife of 64 years, Peggy, died last October of Alzheimer's.

He is survived by his son Steve Gresham, his daughters Brenda Gresham Rainsberger (Todd) and Julie Gresham DiPerna (Doug), his grandchildren, Mason Rainsberger, Melissa Beery, Austin Gresham, Parker Gresham, Luke DiPerna, and Logan DiPerna. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Carson Beery and Gresham Beery. 

He lived a rich life, contributing to his community and those around him. He spoke often of the importance of treating others well and will be greatly missed. 

The family is indebted to the kind and loving staff at The Village, especially the caregivers at Jasmine Pointe. 

A small family service will be held at some future date to celebrate the lives of both Marvin and Peggy.

Marvin Gresham, drug store founder, remembered as Gainesville pillar

 By Anthony Clark

"He was one of those you probably could put in the top five or top 10 in our community in the last 50 years. He was that important, in my mind," said Jody Davis, a longtime friend.


Marvin Gresham was remembered as one of the business and civic pillars of the community as founder of Gresham Drugs, which started with a downtown pharmacy and lunch counter in 1953 and grew to eight locations throughout Alachua County before Eckerd Drugs bought it in 2000.

Gresham died of congestive heart failure early Friday at age 87.

He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, was named Jaycees Man of the Year, served on the boards of Alachua General Hospital, First Union Bank and the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and was on the Santa Fe College foundation board for more than 40 years.

“He was one of those you probably could put in the top five or top 10 in our community in the last 50 years. He was that important, in my mind,” said Jody Davis, a longtime friend and accountant for Gresham, and a fellow SFC board member.

“When I came to Gainesville and got involved in the community, he was one of those ones you dang sure needed to know,” he said.

“Marvin was one of those people that the whole community can be thankful for because he was a consummate business person. He helped a lot of people and provided a lot of jobs.”

Gresham was born in Lincolntown, Georgia, and grew up in Bunnell before studying pharmacy at the University of Florida. He married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Ann Wray, during his senior year of college and served as a pharmacy lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

He worked for a pharmacy in St. Augustine and was invited to become a partner after six months, moving to Gainesville in 1953 as the co-owner and pharmacist of McDonald-Gresham Drugs downtown on West University Avenue.

According to information provided by the family, he served people of all races at his lunch counter and often extended credit to those who couldn't pay.

Santa Fe College President Jackson Sasser said Gresham wanted everything done at its very best and had a penchant for excellence. An example, he said, was the donation from Marvin and Peggy Gresham to buy Steinway pianos, including the grand piano now in the Fine Arts Hall, that made it possible for SFC to become the first all-Steinway community college in Florida at the time and one of a few in the nation.

Sasser said Gresham had a serious disposition but they would also share a laugh.

“He was of that generation that Brokaw wrote about. He was a serious individual but then had a great laugh and just a great temperament,” he said.

Gresham turned the drugstore business over to his son, Steve, in 1992. It was bought by Eckerd Drugs in 2000, which closed five of the eight locations but agreed to hire on all Gresham Drugs employees. Eckerd was later bought by CVS.

His wife, Peggy, died in October 2015 after seven years with Alzheimer’s disease, during which Marvin visited her every day. They were married 64 years.

He is survived by his children, Steve, Brenda and Julie; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A small family service will be held at a later date.