Marshell was born on October 12th, 1935. Marshell's father was Turner Miles Stillwell and his mother was Sadie A. Brewer. His maternal grandparents were John Henry Brewer and Sophia A. Skaggs. He had two brothers and a sister, named J., Monroe and R.. He was the second oldest of the four children. He died at the age of 1 on October 26th, 1936.