Marsha Naquin-Delain, as he was known to his many friends in the New Orleans community, died at his residence on Thursday, December 14, 2017. Born Marion M. Greeson in Baton Rouge, LA on June 17, 1953, he was a resident of New Orleans since 1985. He was the spouse of the late Robert J. “Rip” Naquin, who preceded him in death on August 8, 2017. He is the son of James Greeson Sr. and the late Betty Newsom Greeson, stepson of Betty Greeson of Sherman, Texas, brother of James Greeson Jr. (Cathy), and uncle of James Greeson III and Dana G. Duet.
Delain grew up in Baton Rouge and was graduated from the Baton Rouge Beauty College. Naquin and Delain met outside a Bourbon Street bar in 1973, moved in together in Baton Rouge, and launched Ambush Magazine in 1982 before moving to New Orleans in 1985.
Their same-sex domestic partnership was the first in New Orleans when it was registered in 1993. Naquin and Delain were married in New York in 2013, on their 40th anniversary together.
From 1986 until Naquin’s death, the Ambush offices were located on the first floor of 828 Bourbon St., with the proprietors’ residence on the second and third floors. Legendary parties took place at the 1830s “Ambush Mansion,” especially during Carnival.
Social events at the residence were often occasions to raise money for charity. In August 2015, for example, a Magnolia Cotillion celebrating the couple’s second wedding anniversary raised money for Southern Decadence and its charities: the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, the Louisiana Equality Foundation and PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) New Orleans Scholarship Fund. Over the decades, the couple raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a wide range of charities.
The couple also founded the Krewe of Queenateenas and the Gay Easter Parade. Naquin and Delain were two of the ve Grand Marshals of Southern Decadence in 2015.
It is difficult to talk about Marsha without discussing Rip; the two were literally always together. After Rip’s passing, Marsha remarked to a friend, “This will be the rst night I’ve slept alone in 44 years.”
News of Delain’s passing sent shock-waves through the French Quarter and the New Orleans LGBT+ community. The general feeling of many was she died of a broken heart.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, 1313 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans on Saturday, December 23, 2017, at 11:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. The Rev. Fr. William Terry will of ciate. Kindly omit flowers. Memorials are suggested to Food for Friends or St. Anna’s Place-NOLA.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.tharpsontheimerfh.com. THARP-SONTHEIMER-THARP Funeral Home of Metairie is in charge of arrangements. Information, (504) 8352341
