Celebrating the life of
Anita Fennell Marvin
August 17, 1920 - August 21, 2010
SAVANNAH – Anita Fennell Marvin, 90, widow of the late William Horace Marvin, Jr., died Saturday, August 21, 2010, at Memorial University Medical Center.
The Savannah native was a charter member of Bull Street Baptist Church, taught Sunday School there for more than sixty years, and was the official church listener. She also researched, wrote, and published the 100 Year History of Bull Street Baptist Church.
Mrs. Marvin was a graduate of Armstrong Junior College, the University of Georgia, and Georgia Southern University. She was a retired English teacher for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and was the Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1958 for Chatham County. She was the Star Teacher at Savannah High School in 1955 and at Windsor Forest High School in 1968.
She was a member of N.A.R.F.E. and a Life Member of the Georgia Teachers Organization
She is survived by her daughter, Marcia Marvin Lavely, her grandson, William C. "Rusty" Lavely; her granddaughter, Laura L. Durham; and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents. William Frank "Rusty" Fennell and Lily Hood Fennell.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 22, 2010 from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.
The Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 am on Monday, August 23, 2010, at Bull Street Baptist Church. There will be a special section reserved for her former students from Savannah High School and Windsor Forest High School.
Interment will follow in the Greenwich Section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to Bull Street Baptist Church, 17 East Anderson St., Savannah, GA 31401 or the Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center, 4700 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31404.
My deepest sympathy to the family. Mrs. Marvin was one of the best teachers I had at SHS. Her careful attention to learning styles before that was 'popular' among educators and issues of each student in my English class resulted in each of us becoming better achievers and persons.
- Mary Jo McGee-Brown, Athens, GA
She was a great teacher and will be missed. SHS Class of 1955
- Martin Stelljes, Huntsville, AL
Mrs. Marvin was my one of my favorite teachers when I attended Savannah High School back in 1951 - 52. She was a joy to us all.
- Joyce Mincey Evans, Taylorville, IL
Mrs. Marvin was my English teacher at Windsor Forest High School in 1968. We were the first graduating class. She was the BEST! She made Shakespeare fun...it became alive and real. It was obvious, even at the tender age of 17, that this teacher loved her work! What a legacy she leaves! God Bless!
- JoAnn Riggs Spalding, Orlando, FL
My condolences to your family. Ms. Marvin was a wonderful teacher and one that I can still picture standing before her class almost 50 years later
- Jim Conner, St. Marys, GA
Find a job you really love, and you will not have to work a day in your life. Mrs. Marvin loved teaching, and she loved each one of her students enough to insist we did our best. Great lady. I grieve her passing, but celebrate her life. God's Peace to her family, Bert Oelschig SHS '65
- Bert Oelschig, Anniston, AL
Thanks for the memories and there are many. You have left a legacy of inspiration behind. I can still see you standing before us - the SHS class of 64. You still influence me today. Thank you!
- Camille Puckett, Norcross, GA
Mrs. Marvin may have been the best teacher I had during my high school experience, and without a doubt she was the most dedicated teacher I ever had. Not only was she a fine teacher, but also an exceptional individual. I am sure she will be sorely missed by her family and all who knew her. Please accept my condolences. Lynda Lee Gilbert, SHS Class of '61
- Lynda Lee Gilbert, Conyers, GA
I just learned of your loss. Mrs. Marvin was my English teacher at SHS and the best English teacher I had during my high school years. I will never forget her recording Hamlet-she played every character-as our assignment while she was on leave for surgery. She knew our class so well she had anticipated our responses to parts of dialogue and made comment on the tape about our reactions!! She was the personification of the 'Art of Teaching.' I was so blessed to have her as a teacher.
- Sandra K. Rayburn, Atlanta, GA
Please accept my condolences. I remember your mother as my English teacher at SHS and also as a faithful member of Bull Street Baptist Church.
- Carole Woodcock Harrison, Buford, GA
She was a fantastic teacher. She loved Shakespeare. She was my Senior English teacher. Class of '61. To the Fennell and Marvin family, my sincere condolences.
- Hylos Barrett, Acworth, GA
To the Marvin family: Please accept my sincerest condolences. Mrs. Marvin was my homeroom teacher and Senior Class advisor at Savannah High School in 1965.
- Jay Hall, Savannah, GA
I never had Mrs. Marvin for a teacher at Windsor but I knew her because my Mom was also a teacher there. She was a real special lady and she will be saddly missed. My prayers are with her family.
- teresa Gregory, savannah, GA
SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS
- DURWARD WOODS, ATLANTA, GA
My Condolences to the family, you will be greatly missed! You were a special person. Sally Morrison Green, SHS Class of 1956. St Simons Island, GA
- Sally MorrisonGreen, St Simons Island,, GA
I remember Mrs. Marvin fondly while a student at WFHS 1968-1972. She had dreamed about the first graduating class from WFHS 1968having their ceremony on the front lawn. The tradition continued for several years because of Mrs. Marvin. God Bless each of you during this time.
- Jan Martin, Statesboro, GA
What a truly wonderful, remarkable Lady!!! Thank you for all the inspiration, knowledge, friendship and for caring and understanding. You will be remembered and missed.
- Janice Tillman Karrh, Savannah, GA
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Mrs. Marvin was my English teacher in my senior year, class of 66. I always admired her and what she stood for. May God Bless.
- Donna Hoover Piland, Bainbridge, GA
What a wonderful friend and teacher. She taught the Bull Street Sunday School Class which we attended 1988-1993; what a blessing she was for us. Now she is home with the Lord. God be with you during your time of loss.
- Leo & Mavis Heinz, Bismarck, ND
Remember you. Class of 1955. Barbara Johnson Weeks
- Barbara Johnson Weeks, Charleston, SC
You are remembered with fondness and know you will be missed by all who loved you. Phyllis Oldiges Taunton - SHS class of '55
- Phyllis Taunton, Longview, TX
My deepest sympathy to the family. Mrs. Marvin was one of the best teachers I had at SHS. Her careful attention to learning styles before that was 'popular' among educators and issues of each student in my English class resulted in each of us becoming better achievers and persons.
- Mary Jo McGee-Brown, Athens, GA
She was a great teacher and will be missed. SHS Class of 1955
- Martin Stelljes, Huntsville, AL
Mrs. Marvin was my one of my favorite teachers when I attended Savannah High School back in 1951 - 52. She was a joy to us all.
- Joyce Mincey Evans, Taylorville, IL
Mrs. Marvin was my English teacher at Windsor Forest High School in 1968. We were the first graduating class. She was the BEST! She made Shakespeare fun...it became alive and real. It was obvious, even at the tender age of 17, that this teacher loved her work! What a legacy she leaves! God Bless!
- JoAnn Riggs Spalding, Orlando, FL
My condolences to your family. Ms. Marvin was a wonderful teacher and one that I can still picture standing before her class almost 50 years later
- Jim Conner, St. Marys, GA
Find a job you really love, and you will not have to work a day in your life. Mrs. Marvin loved teaching, and she loved each one of her students enough to insist we did our best. Great lady. I grieve her passing, but celebrate her life. God's Peace to her family, Bert Oelschig SHS '65
- Bert Oelschig, Anniston, AL
Thanks for the memories and there are many. You have left a legacy of inspiration behind. I can still see you standing before us - the SHS class of 64. You still influence me today. Thank you!
- Camille Puckett, Norcross, GA
Mrs. Marvin may have been the best teacher I had during my high school experience, and without a doubt she was the most dedicated teacher I ever had. Not only was she a fine teacher, but also an exceptional individual. I am sure she will be sorely missed by her family and all who knew her. Please accept my condolences. Lynda Lee Gilbert, SHS Class of '61
- Lynda Lee Gilbert, Conyers, GA
I just learned of your loss. Mrs. Marvin was my English teacher at SHS and the best English teacher I had during my high school years. I will never forget her recording Hamlet-she played every character-as our assignment while she was on leave for surgery. She knew our class so well she had anticipated our responses to parts of dialogue and made comment on the tape about our reactions!! She was the personification of the 'Art of Teaching.' I was so blessed to have her as a teacher.
- Sandra K. Rayburn, Atlanta, GA
Please accept my condolences. I remember your mother as my English teacher at SHS and also as a faithful member of Bull Street Baptist Church.
- Carole Woodcock Harrison, Buford, GA
She was a fantastic teacher. She loved Shakespeare. She was my Senior English teacher. Class of '61. To the Fennell and Marvin family, my sincere condolences.
- Hylos Barrett, Acworth, GA
To the Marvin family: Please accept my sincerest condolences. Mrs. Marvin was my homeroom teacher and Senior Class advisor at Savannah High School in 1965.
- Jay Hall, Savannah, GA
I never had Mrs. Marvin for a teacher at Windsor but I knew her because my Mom was also a teacher there. She was a real special lady and she will be saddly missed. My prayers are with her family.
- teresa Gregory, savannah, GA
SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS
- DURWARD WOODS, ATLANTA, GA
My Condolences to the family, you will be greatly missed! You were a special person. Sally Morrison Green, SHS Class of 1956. St Simons Island, GA
- Sally MorrisonGreen, St Simons Island,, GA
I remember Mrs. Marvin fondly while a student at WFHS 1968-1972. She had dreamed about the first graduating class from WFHS 1968having their ceremony on the front lawn. The tradition continued for several years because of Mrs. Marvin. God Bless each of you during this time.
- Jan Martin, Statesboro, GA
What a truly wonderful, remarkable Lady!!! Thank you for all the inspiration, knowledge, friendship and for caring and understanding. You will be remembered and missed.
- Janice Tillman Karrh, Savannah, GA
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Mrs. Marvin was my English teacher in my senior year, class of 66. I always admired her and what she stood for. May God Bless.
- Donna Hoover Piland, Bainbridge, GA
What a wonderful friend and teacher. She taught the Bull Street Sunday School Class which we attended 1988-1993; what a blessing she was for us. Now she is home with the Lord. God be with you during your time of loss.
- Leo & Mavis Heinz, Bismarck, ND
Remember you. Class of 1955. Barbara Johnson Weeks
- Barbara Johnson Weeks, Charleston, SC
You are remembered with fondness and know you will be missed by all who loved you. Phyllis Oldiges Taunton - SHS class of '55
- Phyllis Taunton, Longview, TX
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
