Marvella Louise Travis, was the eleventh of seventeen children of the late Howard
W. and Rena V. Elliott. She was born on November 22, 1934 in Cambridge,
Mayland. Marvella went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 11,
2021.
She was raised in Cordtown, Maryland and attended the public schools of
Dorchester County where she received her GED. Marvella also completed several
courses at Sojourner Douglas College.
Marvel, as she was affectionately called, faithfully served in the Dorchester
County Board of Education for thirty-one years. After retiring in 2000, because of
the love she had for helping children, she returned to the Dorchester County
Board of Education to continue making a difference in the lives of children.
On April 15, 1978, she was joined in Holy Matrimony to Kenneth E. Travis of
whom she loved dearly. They enjoyed thirty-seven years together.
In February 1965, Marvel gave her life to Christ. She faithfully served at Union
Chapel A.M.E. Church in Cordtown, Maryland where she wore many hats before
her health began to fail. She accepted the call into the ministry and preached her
trial sermon on January 18, 1998. She was ordained a local Deacon on March 18,
2000, under the leadership of Bishop Vinton Anderson. Her relationship with the
Lord continued to grow under the leadership of Rev. Kismat Alim. Hungry for the
Word, she enrolled in a structured course of Bible study at the Christian World
College of Theology in Salisbury, Maryland and received an Associate of Ministry
degree in 2001. She also received a Certificate in Christian Counseling there.
Marvel loved to sing and could sing. She was a member of several groups
including “The Renette Gospel Singers”, “The Fifty Voices of Cambridge”, “The
Cambridge Mass Choir”, “The Singing Angels”, “The Dorchester County Workshop
Choir” and was the only original member of “The Sunrise Singers of Cordtown”
still living. Prior to her departure, she was a member of the Gospel Choir of her
beloved Union Chapel A.M.E Church.
In her church, she was someone who could be depended and trusted to perform
at a high level, whatever task was assigned. Marvel was very talented and would
make sure that whatever she was asked to do would be done in a first class
manner even if she had to go the extra mile to make it happen; often selling
tickets to ensure that an event would be successful.
Prior to her health issues, she served on many Boards such as: Usher Board,
Steward Board, Finance Committee, Married Couple Ministry (President),
Pastor’s Aide, Sunday School Education Ministry, the Cemetery Committee and
the Missionary Society. Marvel, also, was an active member of the Ministerial
Staff of Union Chapel A.M.E. Church. She served as a member of the Good
Shepherds Association as the Program Organizer and the Harriett Tubman
Organization of Cambridge.
Marvel loved her family and loved to reminisce about “all” the good times they
had together. She loved it when they talked about how they grew up “poor” and
“needy”; being poor but not realizing it because of all the love they had for one
another. She would compare how they grew up, to how children of today “grow
up with everything.”
She would often have events at her home just to bring the family together and
remind them of the value of the family staying and praying together. Also, a point
of interest was talking about how important it was for the Elliott family to show
love to each other and to those who were less fortunate than her family. These
kind of rules were laid down by her father and mother, Howard and Rena.
Marvel often said that her favorite hymns were “I Must Tell Jesus” and “If I Can
Help Somebody.” Her favorite Scripture was Prov. 3”5-6, “5) Trust in the Lord with
all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. 6) In all thy ways
acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.”
Marvel tried to instill Christian values in her children and grand-children through
her words and deeds. She was relentless in her pursuit for them accepting Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Savior; often pleading with them to live a life of
“righteousness.”
Marvel was preceded in death by her parents, Howard W. and Rena V. Elliott; her
husband, Kenneth E. Travis; two daughters, Beverly A. Elliott and Vanessa A.
Jenkins; one son, Terrence L. Jenkins; 14 brothers and sisters; and several other
family members.
She leaves to mourn her loss: one son, Tyrome (Sandra) Elliott of Catonsville, Md.;
one daughter, Renako Randall of Baltimore, Md.; two brothers, Palestine (Mary)
Elliott of Odenton, Md.; Frederick (Constance) Elliott of Cambridge, Md.; nine
grand-children, Shonda Jenkins, Anika Jenkins, Rasheka Molock, Kian Randall,
Levone Ward, Cristi Carruthers, Kenneth Elliott, Lauren Elliott, and Ryan Elliott;
seventeen Great grand-children which includes JaBron Moore who “felt like my
own son”; one adopted daughter, Elsie Anderson; nine great- great grand
children; sixteen devoted nieces; eleven nephews and a host of cousins and
friends. She loved all of these dearly.
Lovingly Submitted,
The Family
Homegoing Services (Webinar):
February 21, 2020
Room opens at 2:45pm
Funeral starts promptly at 3pm
Link: http://bit.ly/2Nzbv3Y
Phone: (301) 715-8592
Webinar ID: 868 3247 5453
Funeral Reception (Regular Zoom Meeting):
February 21, 2020
Tentative start at 4:30pm (dependent on funeral)
Link: http://bit.ly/2ZqnlQJ
Phone: (301) 715-8592
Meeting ID: 882 9401 5663
Sunday, February 21, 2021
10:00am - 2:00pm
Henry Funeral Home, P.A.
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Starts at 3:00pm
Virtual Services -- Zoom
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