Marian L. Holley

Marian Lorraine Holley was born on August 22, 1942, to Marcellus Hawkins and Bertha Hawkins nee Jamison.  She was raised in North and Southwest Philadelphia, the third child of eight.  Marian attended St. Paul’s Baptist Church. She was educated in the Philadelphia Public School system and graduated from Kensington High School.  As a new graduate Marian took classes and worked at Community College of Philadelphia.  She enjoyed her secretarial duties and moved up in her career to work in the dean’s office at Thomas Jefferson University. She received her teaching certificate through Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Marian met a future serviceman named John Holley who lived across the street from the church. While she was initially uninterested, John was able to win Marian’s heart by endearing himself to her family. They were married on May 18, 1968. As her husband served his country stateside and abroad, Marian worked tirelessly laying down their roots in Philadelphia.  When John finished his service, Marian left the workforce to care for her growing family, but still made time to do the things she loved.

In 1973, after listening to a message on the Grand Old Gospel hour, Marian and John were led to the Lord by Dr. B. Sam Hart.  They went on to become founding members of Germantown Christian Assembly (GCA). John and Marian served together in ministry. Marian found her strength in working in the Children’s Ministry. After 35+ years, John and Marian moved on from GCA to Believer’s Bible Fellowship. Marian served as a Sunday school, bible club, Vacation Bible school teacher, and a member of the Golden Eagles Seniors ministry. 

Marian was a prayer warrior and would stop and pray if anyone had a request. There was rarely a time you would see Marian without a head covering. She started each day at 4am, taking her “quiet time” before the rest of the family start their day. Whenever asked if she wanted anything, she was known to say, “It is my heart’s desire that my children walk upright in the Lord.” 

Marian invested in the community she lived.  While her children attended school, Marian was known to visit Pennypacker Elementary School and tutor students in reading, writing and arithmetic. She worked the election polls for several years on Ogontz Avenue.  She was the block captain for nearly 30 years, facilitating block clean-up days, communicating new city policies with her neighbors, and being an advocate to her representatives of neighbors’ concerns.

Marian loved taking pictures.  There were few events she attended without her trusty camera.  People were often asked to stop and pose at church, the students in her daycare classroom, community events, or family picnics.  She loved to capture “the beauty that God gave us,” by taking pictures of nature.

Marian was called to glory and joined again with her husband on August 13, 2024. She was a devoted wife, a praying mother, and memory capturing grandmother who had unbelievably strong arms, ready to wrap anyone in a fierce hug. Her sweet, loving demeanor and steadfast determination will be missed by all who had the privilege to know her.

Marian was preceded in death by her father Marcellus; mother, Bertha; brother, Anthony Hawkins; daughter, Elisabeth Anne, and husband of fifty-four (54) years, John.  Marian is survived by her three children, Sean, Sr., Timothy (Janine), and Eunice (Cyril); nine grandchildren, Christopher, Jonan, Sean, Jr. Steven, Siona, Sierra, Alexander, Kara, and Chloe; six siblings, Vivian Hurst, Marcellus “Dee Dee” (LaWanda) Hawkins, Leon Hawkins, Jacqueline Hackney, Theresa Joe, Gerald (Shiela) Hawkins; one brother-in-law, William Lee “Sonny” Holley, a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Submitted With Love,

The Family

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