Do you think Marshall's legacy as a healer extended beyond his work as a physician?

In the end, do you think Marshall's legacy as a healer extended beyond his work as a physician?

I'm not sure about the term "healer", I felt he was a doctor who was open to seeing patients as whole people and therefore went beyond just writing prescriptions and ordering tests. He was compassionate and sacrificed wealth to fulfill his mission to help and heal. I'm sure he will leave a legacy and the people of the town will realize they will never find another doctor like him again!

Yes. Although the term healer might be very broad. The way he treated others as a young man carried through his medical practice and beyond. I believe it was Bubba who relayed the story of Marshall getting down and letting kids feel his head for horns. He treated all people with kindness and respect but did not extend this to the Hammonds, who had shown themselves to be hateful and corrupt. However, by extending himself to others in his community he did in a way heal divides as well as bodies.

I agree with the other comments on this thread that healer is a bit of a broad paintbrush for Marshall. Definitely in the literal sense he was a healer and he most certainly went above and beyond in his role. He seemed to be a very kindhearted soul but there was another side to him which we didn't see a lot of until he told Joey the truth about his culpability in Roy Hammond's death. I think most of us have some duality but definitely in Marshall's case his good works seemed to outweigh his past.

In a small Southern town, the family doctor is privy to all the secrets of the town and has the opportunity to "heal" others in not just medical ways, but also many times serves as a psychologist/pastor to his patients when needed. They usually trust his
judgement. Many times the doctors were among the most educated persons in town.

I don't know if I would use the word healer, but he certainly was always willing to look beyond the color of a person's skin or their position in society, which may have been unusual for a person living in the south at that time. But I do think that when he told Joey the story of what happened to Roy Hammond, it did do something to help heal Joey. He always talked about having no empathy for others and I have to wonder if that changed once he learned how his father practically beat that into him when Roy Hammond was killed.

Marshall atones for his wrongdoings when he was young by doing helping those who need it. He heals them and he heals himself.

It seems like some readers have trouble thinking of Marshall as a healer...long before he was a physician he was a thoughtful, compassionate person as examplified by his youthful friendships and loyalty.

The fact that Marshall, a doctor, ran a free clinic speaks for itself. He was not in his career only for money - but because he cared about people. People liked him for himself and were glad to be around him. He treated all people as equals - money or power did not matter to him. He spent many hours fishing with Bubba and Lawrence, who were never movers and shakers of the town. He treated all people with dignity. Marshall knew how to talk with kids and to convince them to have patience.