Obituary: Celebrating the Life of Ole Miss Great, Marvin Terrell

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics

The Ole Miss family lost a football legend in Marvin Terrell, 80, who passed away on Dec. 1 at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.

Terrell was one of the finest offensive linemen in Ole Miss history, as a three-year letter winner for the Rebels from 1957-59. A first-team All-American in 1959, Terrell helped Ole Miss compile a 25-4-1 record, including appearances in two Sugar Bowls and one Gator Bowl.

As a senior in 1959, Terrell helped lead Ole Miss to a 10-1 record and the Rebels were crowned national champions by multiple publications. He was named a consensus All-SEC selection in 1959, as well as the SEC’s Lineman of the Year by the Atlanta Constitution. The Rebels outscored their opponents 329-21 during Terrell’s senior season.

After his career at Ole Miss, Terrell was a first-round draft pick by the Dallas Texans of the AFL in 1960. He would play for the Texans, who later became the Kansas City Chiefs, until 1964. Terrell, a member of Ole Miss’ Team of the Century, was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988 and into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Terrell, the son of Marvin and Mary Fraiser Terrell, was born on June 10, 1938, in West Memphis, Arkansas and attended Indianola High School in Indianola, Mississippi.

Terrell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lettie G. Terrell of Yazoo City; daughter, Julie Trammell (Tim) of Madison; daughter, Jana Bardwell (Andy) of Yazoo City; sister, Paula Prysock (Bobby) of Indianola; brother, Johnnie Terrell (Mia) of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; grandsons, Ty Trammell, Will Trammell, Hayes Bardwell, Tyler Bardwell, and granddaughter, Allye Trammell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 3, with visitation from noon until 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church and burial to follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, Mississippi.

HottyToddy.com Staff Report