BIOGRAPHY

Marsh was born in Thaxton, Bedford County, Virginia, USA, around 12:05 AM on 8 October 1905. Her parents were William Abner Creasey (1879–1952) and Laura Margaret Wheeler (1878–1953). She had nine siblings: Grace Lyman (1904–1999), Minnie Zola Wheeler (1906–1994), Lois Margaret Poff (1908–2004), Teresa Bertelle Douthat (1910–2006), Bernard Woodrow Creasy (1912–1981), Nelson Abner Creasy (1914–1999), Naomi L. De Phillips (1917–2006), Inez Highberg (1919–2007) and Vera Elizabeth Schreiber (1921–2014). She was born in the house which at one time belonged to her great-grandfather, William Wigginton. Her parents owned a 129-acre farm where they raised tomatoes for a local canning factory.

At the age of 14, she joined Shady Grove Baptist Church and was baptized in the creek near the church. She served at that church until she was 18 years old, when she joined the First Baptist Church of Lynchburg, becoming a lifetime member. Her first job was at a 10 sent store in Lynchburg. She went to night school to take refresher courses in reading, writing, arithmetic, and English to become a bookkeeper. In the night school, she met Osby Edgar Marsh. They started dating, and even started going to the same church. On 20 June 1928, they got married after three years of dating. The couple had three children: Mildred Brooks (1929–2022), Osby Edgar Jr. and Daniel (1935–1936). She also raised one of her nephews as her own child.

Her husband passed away on 5 May 1995. At the age of 105, she was still working in her small garden, still was still able to do canning, cooking and sewing. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she attributed it to: “The Lord, my family, hard work and good home grown food…”

Marsh passed away in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, on 4 September 2016, at the age of 110 years, 332 days. She was survived by her daughter, eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 18 great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great-granddaughter.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 10 June 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Mary Phoebe Marsh” – FindAGrave

* “Mary Phoebe Creasy Marsh” – Diuguid Funeral Service

* “Local woman celebrates her 105th birthday” – Bedford Bulletin, 3 November 2010

GALLERY

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