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Marva Thompson

Marva Thompson was a Jamaican-born nurse who lived in West Baltimore with her husband, Jean-Claude Thompson. She and Jean-Claude married around 2001 and raised their son, Jamal Thompson, in a Jamaican and Haitian household.

Early Life and Family

Marva was born in 1982 and grew up in Jamaica. She was living in Baltimore by approximately 2000, when she met Jean-Claude. Marva was about eighteen and Jean-Claude was about twenty-eight. They married around 2001, and Jamal was born in late 2002.

Marva’s mother became ill when Jamal was approximately nine or ten and died around 2012.

Cultural Identity and Communication

Marva spoke English and Jamaican Patois. She used Patois endearments with Jamal and used English and Patois within the family’s multilingual household. Her church friends were part of the support network that reached her during the 2019 police-violence crisis; her denomination has not been established.

Marva braided Jamal’s hair from childhood into adulthood. The sessions provided regular time together and, during periods of severe stress, gave Jamal an opportunity to rest or speak more openly.

Career

Marva worked as a nurse. Her exact training path, credential level, workplace, and career dates have not been established.

Personality and Communication

Marva was direct, practical, and attentive to changes in her family’s behavior. She often responded to crises by handling immediate needs and giving Jean-Claude or Jamal space to recover before asking for explanations.

When Jamal reached puberty, Marva gave him a diagram-based, medically direct talk. He later described it as her having “gone all medical” on him.

Family and Core Relationships

Jean-Claude Thompson

Main article: Marva Thompson and Jean-Claude Thompson

Marva and Jean-Claude built their household in Baltimore after meeting around 2000. Marva supported him during the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and remained with him during his July 2021 hospitalization for aspiration pneumonia.

Jamal Thompson

Main article: Jamal Thompson and Marva Thompson

Marva was twenty when Jamal was born. She remained closely involved with him after he left Baltimore for Georgetown and paid attention to signs that he was exhausted, in pain, or withholding distress.

Major Events

2010 Haiti Earthquake

After the earthquake, Marva drove Jean-Claude home while he was exhausted, dehydrated, nauseated, and overwhelmed by news about relatives in Haiti. She arranged for Jamal to stay with her sister while she cared for Jean-Claude.

June 2019 Police-Violence Incident

Main article: June 2019 Police Violence Incident - Event

Marva learned about the incident from circulating video footage. When Jamal returned home, she held him as he cried and stayed with him while he vomited. Five days later, she redid his hair with coconut oil, hummed an old Jamaican lullaby, noticed his exhaustion and headache, and allowed him to sleep during the braiding session.

Jean-Claude’s 2021 Hospitalization

Marva called emergency services when Jean-Claude aspirated during a respiratory crisis in July 2021. She accompanied him to the hospital and remained involved during his treatment and recovery.

Memorable Quotes

“Mi pickney.”

Marva used this Patois endearment for Jamal.

“When’s the last time you ate? When’s the last time you slept proper?”

She asked these questions during braiding sessions when she was checking in on Jamal without pressing him for a full explanation.

Characters Supporting Characters Living Characters Black Characters Jamaican Characters Thompson Family