Marian Cottrell was born in McCullough, Alabama to Rev. Emanuel Johnson and Ross Steele-Johnson on April 5, 1930.  After the passing of her father, they relocated to Canoe, Alabama where she attended Escambia County High School.  She was raised in a loving home with ten siblings.  As they because adults and began to leave home to start new lives, moving to different parts of the country, they always kept in close contact with each other.

Marian had a love for music.  She sang at different churches all over Atmore, Alabama until her mother moved to Cape Charles, Virginia.  This is where her new life with the Lord began and she was called to preach His Word.  She was called to the Gospel Temple Holiness Church in Cheriton, VA.

Then she met the love of her life, Arthur Lee Cottrell.  They were married for over 50 years until the Lord called him home.

One of her favorite pastimes was to sit out on her screened in porch, enjoy the sunshine and witness and pray for people.  She loved to help those in need by buying hem food, clothing and helping them financially.