Marinia Harrison-Maye was born on September 12, 1931, to Mamie Reaves Harrison and Charlie Harrison Jr. in Wilson County, Elm City, North Carolina. She was the eighth child of nine children (the knee baby). Her Beloved siblings were Alex (Boy), Eddie Lee, Ernest, Cleveland, Daisy, Lonnie, and Irene.

She received her early childhood and High School education while growing up in Wilson County. At the age of twelve, she accepted Christ at Cherry's Chapel Baptist Church, under the Beloved Reverend T.H. Rand, Pastor. Her teenage years were spent working in Church and Sunday School. At Church, she served as a Sunday School Union Delegate, as a Sunday School Teacher and its Secretary, and a Choir member.

Later, she united with her Beloved William Maye (deceased, 2016) to whom she was married for over 65 years. They eventually moved to Brooklyn, New York. Out of this union, 7 amazing children were born: William Norris Maye, Charles Reginald Maye (Uthman Abdullah), Richard Maye (Ricky), Beloved Phyllis Robin Maye (deceased), Beloved Linda Michele Maye (deceased), Carolyn Graves-Maye (Moochie) and Lisa Irene Maye (Nisaa Shabazz), including 1 stepson, William Bernard Maye.

In 1965, she and her husband, William, joined Glover Memorial Baptist Church (Brooklyn, NY), under the Beloved founding Pastor, the Reverend L.P. Taylor, where they and their children worked for Christ. She organized and sang in the CC Wells Gospel Chorus, was the Secretary of Finances and a member of the Missionary Ministry. She was a Church Usher and a member of the New York City Church Ushers Association and its Benevolent Club. Ultimately, she earned the title, Deacon Marinia Maye, which she carried with honor and respect.

Upon raising seven children, Marinia graduated with honors from New York City College. Thereafter, she graduated from Baruch College, majoring in Education with a minor in Psychology. Notably, she worked at the Teen Aid High School for pregnant, single young women and the Rothchild Junior High School for the Board of Education for 24 years.

In 1994, she voluntarily retired to care for her seven grandchildren: Nakia, LeRoi, Melissa, Nylisha, Travis, Benjamin, and Taquasha, of her Beloved daughter Robin. This inspired her to join the Grandmothers Love Program, organized by the New York City Police Department, supporting grandmothers raising grandchildren whose parents have passed on.