Marie was a lifelong Texan, meeting her husband Carroll in Bonham in 1952. After they married, She proudly stood by him as a Marine Wife. Marie went on to care for youngsters in her Winnsboro day care before moving to Jacksonville. Here She continued to assist in the care of children with the Readiness School, as well as serving as a Nurse aide to the Jacksonville School System. Venturing as an entrepreneur, she went into sales, and found the career she loved as a sales woman with TDT. After 26 years, she began to enjoy retirement.

Marie is now reunited with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Atkins, brother and sister-in-law Hart and Eloise Atkins, sister and brother-in-law Willie Junior and  LaVerne Rudd, brother Bobby Atkins, sister and brother-in-law Jack and Katie Myers.

She leaves her memory to her husband Carroll Gresham, daughter Debbie Gresham, daughter and son-in-law Dr. Morgan and Linda Brown, son Ricky Gresham, son Bill Gresham, sister-in-law Lena Faye Atkins, grandchildren Kevin Brown, Jason Brown, Marc Gresham, Natasha Gresham, Joseph Gresham, Dylan Gresham, and Cheyenne Gresham. Marie also gave love and support to Katie Chambers, Chris Chambers, and Sonja Gresham, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Services will be at the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville at 2 PM, Monday July 18, 2022,

under the direction of Rev. Patrick Evans, with Visitation before at 1:00 PM.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Marine Corps League Detachment 1381 of Jacksonville. 

Pallbearers include Marc Gresham, Chris Chambers, Kevin Brown, Jason Brown, Dennis Strickland, Dee Merritt, Bob Martin and Richard Nielsen.