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Marian Cousins, 73, guidance counselor at Willingboro High

Marian Sehested Cousins, 73, a Willingboro High School guidance counselor whom the Burlington County Black Business and Professional Association named its 1988 Professional Person of the Year, died of lung cancer Friday, May 10, at her home in Mount Laurel.

Marlan Cousins
Marlan CousinsRead more

Marian Sehested Cousins, 73, a Willingboro High School guidance counselor whom the Burlington County Black Business and Professional Association named its 1988 Professional Person of the Year, died of lung cancer Friday, May 10, at her home in Mount Laurel.

In 1986, she was named Educator of the Year by the Philadelphia office of Inroads, whose website states that its mission is "to develop and place talented underserved youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership."

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mrs. Cousins was a 1957 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School there and earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Springfield (Mass.) College in 1961.

She earned a master's degree in education at Queens College of the City University of New York in February 1970.

Her daughter-in-law, Maryelyn Cousins, said that Mrs. Cousins began teaching physical education at Brentwood High School on Long Island in 1961.

After earning her counseling degree, Mrs. Cousins moved with her family to South Jersey in 1970 and was a guidance counselor for Willingboro High School until she retired in 1998.

"She helped out at the school for a while, one semester," but then focused on her golf, her daughter-in-law said, "and won a lot of tournaments at Deerwood Country Club."

Besides her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Cousins is survived by her husband, Gerald, son David, a brother, and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother.

A life celebration was set from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Deerwood Country Club, 845 Woodlane Rd., Westampton, N.J. 08060.

Donations may be made to the American Lung Association at www.lung.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at Mount Laurel Home for Funerals, 212 Ark Rd., Mount Laurel, N.J. 08054.