2 Mass. brothers killed in Va. crash

Two brothers driving from their mother's house in Gloucester to a graduate education program at the University of Florida in Gainesville died in a car crash in Virginia over the weekend, colleagues said yesterday.

David Marshall, 39, and Brian Marshall, 31, apparently lost control of their SUV about 2:30 a.m. Saturday on Interstate 95 in southern Virginia, colleagues and relatives said. It was not clear who had been driving.

The brothers, both in the university's graduate program for counselor education, had gone home, in part, to help their mother prepare her house for sale, said Stephanie Sarkis, a close friend who attended their graduate program.

Their mother had considered moving to Gainesville to be closer to her sons, Sarkis said.

Their mother, Esther Marshall, could not be reached last night. Her only remaining child, Michael, who is Brian's twin, said he and his mother were grateful for the time the family had together.

``They were generous, caring, and loving people," their brother said. ``What we'll remember the most about them is their sense of humor. They could make us laugh at any given moment."

Neither local or State Police in Sussex County in Virginia returned calls last night.

A report in the Richmond Times-Dispatch said the brothers died after being ejected from their vehicle after it ``ran off the highway and crashed."

``They were kind, generous, and very dependable," Sarkis said in a telephone interview. ``They were very loyal and very loving."

She said they once showed up to her house, unsolicited, and helped her and her husband paint their bedroom.

David Marshall, who graduated Gloucester High School in 1985 and went on to graduate from Eastern New Mexico University, was pursuing his doctorate and had founded the Florida Center for Performance Excellence, said professor Harry Daniels, chairman of the counselor education department. The brothers were in the process of starting a performance consulting business.

Brian Marshall, who graduated Gloucester High School in 1993 and also graduated from Eastern New Mexico University, had begun a master's degree in exercise science and then transferred to the counselor education department, his brother said.

``What is hard to describe is the impact of the loss of David and Brian on the department," Daniels said. ``These two guys were the heart and soul of the department. If anybody needed anything to be done -- to move, painting, cooking, whatever -- they were the first two people to chip in. Both were outstanding cooks and outstanding students."

Daniels recalled how David Marshall once surrendered his prized long hair for a fund-raising event.

``They were the kinds of people who would do anything for everyone," said Mary Ann Clark, an associate professor of education in the department.

Brian Marshall said a memorial service will be held Saturday at the Pike Grondin Funeral Home in Gloucester. Daniels said the department will have its own service on Sept. 1.

David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.