Ms. Marva Hicks Smith was born in Hungerford, Texas in 1930s. She and her sister, Shirley, attended the Wharton County schools until they went to Los Angeles, California to stay with an aunt for two years. Schools in Los Angeles offered more opportunities during those years and when the girls returned to Texas, they had to make some adjustments. Ms. Smith graduated from Powell Point High School in Fort Bend County, then went on to nursing school. She worked in Houston’s Medical Center at St. Luke’s Hospital. Throughout her life, she has carried with her a love of cooking. She recounts favorite dishes including biscuits, jelly cake, tea cakes, cobblers, turkey and greens.

She was interviewed on 30 April 2011 in her home. The interview was conducted by Sandra Davidson and Toni Tipton-Martin. The interview is available at M.D. Anderson Library on the main campus of the university.