Colonel Marshall was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1946. She was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps following graduation from the University of Maryland in 1968.

Her initial four years were spent in administrative billets at Quantico, Virginia, and Headquarters Marine Corps. Subsequent assignments included tours as Chief of Staff, Adjutant, Squadron Executive Officer, Instructor Amphibious Instruction Branch and Chief of Staff at the Division, Wing and Force Service Support Group level. Colonel Marshal also served as the Assistant Operations Officer for the Vietnamese Refugee Relocation Center established at Camp Pendleton, CA, following the fall of Saigon.

Colonel Marshall deployed to Southwest Asia during the early phase of Operation Desert Shield as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Manpower for I Marine Expeditionary Force. She returned to Southern California and became the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 for the newly formed V Marine Expeditionary Force prior to commencement of Operation Desert Storm to assist in development of plans to provide critically needed reinforcements to deployed units.

Colonel Marshall retired from active service in July 1992. Her final assignment was as the Inspector for Marine Corps Air Bases Western Area/MCAS El Toro.

After her retirement Colonel Marshall completed her law degree and has been successful lawyer in Orange County where she lives with her husband Retired Colonel Norm Marshall.