Marva A. Sweeting was born June 27, 1936, in Key West, Florida to George and Irene Allen. She received her formal education at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School. After receiving her formal education, she went on to attend Frederick Douglass High School in Key West, Florida. While attending Douglass she participated in many extracurricular activities, namely oratorical speaking. Marva also attended church with her mother and became a member of the Junior Usher Board of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Later on in her adulthood, she taught Sunday school for many years.
In 1954, her senior year in high school, she represented Douglass in a public speaking contest, she wrote and performed a piece entitled, "I Speak for Democracy!" She gained notoriety for her talent after the contest was aired on a local radio station. She would go on to publicly speak at church events and other noteworthy occasions in the city of Key West.
Shortly after graduating high school, she spent a short tenure in Brooklyn, New York with her eldest sister, Florelle. After corresponding with her hometown love, she decided to move back to Key West.
On June 27, 1957, she was united in holy matrimony to Floyd H. Sweeting, Sr. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for 41 years. Her husband was a businessman and an entrepreneur which required him to work long hours. He took big financial risks in opening his business, which included a barbershop and apartments.
She was supporting and loving the entire 54 years of marriage. The two celebrated their 50th golden anniversary in 2007. They displayed their 50 years of love in a beautiful ceremony in West Palm Beach, Florida. A host of family and friends congregated to celebrate with the loving couple, it was an event to remember.
Marva was also very supportive to her two boys, doing everything by the power of God and through the Holy Spirit to guide her. The Spirit was so powerful in Marva she helped her family enjoy the best of times and was a powerful calming spirit during times of trouble. Marva was the love, smiles, hugs, soft words, strength, joy, confidence1 perseverance, and the path through the storm. Marva loved her grandchildren very much and gave them the foundation they would need to go into this world to be the best person they can be. She taught them the word of God at Sabbath school in their younger years and always covered them with her love.
While being the foundation at the home, she was also a dedicated employee of Sears and Roebuck. She retired from Sears after being of service to the department store chain for over 20 years.
In 1977, she became a member of the Southernmost Seventh Day Adventist Church. During her ministry she was the personal ministry leader, head deaconess and the Pathfinder's leader. The Pathfinders group was near and dear to her. The group raised funds to travel to church conventions and other ministry events by creating and selling arts and crafts. Her dear friends participated in the group with her; the late Violet Hollowell was the arts and crafts teacher, and Mrs. Patricia Gallagher was the transportation coordinator.
Her strength, joy and calm spirit was the Highlight of who she was. Through the best of times and during times of trouble she maintained her faith in Christ.