Marvell was born on January 27, 1948 in Eloy, AZ, to the late Adell and Neoma Phillips. She was the fifth of eleven children. Marvell attended elementary school in Eloy, AZ, and graduated High School in Wilcox AZ. Marvell and her husband of 53 years, Isaac White Sr. met in October 1967 and married in January of 1968. From this union one son was born, Isaac Lawrence White II. Because of Isaac White Sr.’s military service the family was soon on the move. They made their base of operation in Detroit Michigan. While living in Detroit Marvell accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Marvell joined the Second Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized by her Pastor, Rev. David L Kelley. Marvell served as a Sunday School teacher at Second Canaan Missionary Baptist Church. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Humanities from Wayne State University in June 1980. Following retirement in 2002, Isaac Sr., Isaac II and Marvell returned to her beloved Arizona. In 2006 Marvell joined Caanan Missionary Baptist Church in Mesa Arizona under the leadership of Pastor Sherman J. Fort. Marvell remained a member of Canaan until her transition to heaven on Thursday, January 28th, 2021. Marvell leaves behind her husband Isaac White Sr.; son, Isaac Lawrence White II; two grandchildren, Treyce Nevon Tanner and Talise Iyanna White; brother Odell Phillips of Marysville, CA; Marjori Onyekuru of Sterling Heights, MI, Gloria Herve of San Bernardino, CA; brother-in-law Norman L White; sisters-in-law Shirleen Foster, Bobbie J Johnson, Annie M White, Aris M Lee all of Detroit, MI, and a host of nieces and nephews.