Marva Dell Phillips Duckett, age 84 passed away on Friday, July 5, 2024. She was born to the late Benjamin Erma and Mary King Phillips on February 21, 1940 at 9:00 a.m. in Port Lavaca, Texas. She was converted to Christianity at St. Joseph Baptist Church.
Marva attended Wilkins Elementary and High until the schools were integrated. She attended Calhoun High School from 1955-1956 until she graduated in the year 1957-1958. She was a member of the Calhoun High School Band and Future Nurses Club. Upon graduation, she secured a job at Carver High School in Edna, Texas as secretary to Mr. E.E. Johnson, Principal. She worked at this job for three years. She resigned and obtained a National Defense Student Loan and attended Prairie View A&M College. She spent one summer working at Alcoa Aluminum Company in Point Comfort. Marva obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education in January 1967.
She began her career in the Edgewood Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas from 1967-68 school year until her retirement in June of 2000. She was a life member of TRTA (Texas Retired Teachers Association), SAARTA (San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association), NAACP and the Prairie View Alumni & Ex-Students Association. After moving to San Antonio, Marva united with New Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Rev, J. Carlton Allen, Pastor. She later united with Zion Star Baptist Church, Rev. O.L. McNary, Pastor. Marva later moved her membership to Bethel United Methodist Church, Rev. Robert E. Glenn, Jr., Pastor.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Sr. and Mary Phillips; three brothers, Benjamin E. Phillips, Jr., David Crittenden and Wayne King Phillips; and three sisters, Charles Laverne Jackson, Amelia Marcelle Williams and Lita Lois King.
She leaves to mourn her passing—a loving and devoted son, Hiram G. Henderson; adopted daughter, Brandi Lynn Davis (Asinia); sisters, Vivian Clay, Sirlena Phillips, Janie Phillips and Ruth Ella (Johnnie) Scott; brother, William Gerald Phillips; grandchildren, Jayden, Kyler, Chance and Anise Davis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 5-7PM at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 1PM at St. Joseph Baptist Church, 811 S Virginia, Port Lavaca, with burial following at Port Lavaca Cemetery.
Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.richardsoncolonial.com.