Norval Marley: The Father Who Abandoned Bob Marley at Birth, His Mother Raised a Reggae King
When people talk about Bob Marley, they mostly think of his music and his undeniable influence around the world. However, the side of his life that usually goes untold is that of his father, Norval Marley.
Sadly, Norval played a noticeably small role in Bob’s life. It was as if he was never there to begin with. That’s why not many people know who he really was. Still, he must’ve had a hand in shaping the man Bob Marley eventually became, even through his absence.
This article takes a closer look at who Norval Marley was, where he came from, and how his story fits into the larger picture of Bob’s life.
Norval Marley: Personal Profile
Very few resources offer detailed information about Norval Marley. This makes it hard to paint a full picture of who he actually was. That said, the facts that we do have give us a basic idea of him. Let’s start with some key highlights.
Image source: Google
- Full Name: Norval Sinclair Marley
- Year of Birth: Around 1885
- Place of Birth: Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
- Ethnicity: White Jamaican with English roots
- Profession: British Army officer, supervisor, and construction worker
- Date of Death: 1955
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Sidilla Editha “Cedella” Booker (née Malcolm)
- Children: One (Robert Nesta Marley, aka Bob Marley)
Norval Marley: Early Life and Origin
Around the mid-1880s, Norval Marley was born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica. Although he was Jamaican by birth, his roots traced back to England. His father, Albert Thomas Marley, was originally from Sussex, England.
Presumably, Albert had to move to Jamaica as part of the British colonial system. This made Norval a white Jamaican, setting him apart in a country where most of the population was of African descent.
Principally, Norval’s British heritage caused quite a confusion about where he was born. Some sources mistakenly claim he was born in Crowborough, UK, possibly due to his last name and family background.
However, the most reliable information points to Jamaica as his actual birthplace.
As for his early life and childhood, not much is known about Norval. Most likely, he grew up in a house influenced by both British and Jamaican culture.
Norval Marley: Military Service and Career
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Norval later joined the British Army and served as a soldier. Oftentimes, he was referred to as “Captain,” but it’s unclear whether it was his official rank or an informal title. Most probably, he enlisted as a private and didn’t achieve a higher rank.
When it comes to Norval’s career after his time in the military, details are limited. It’s believed he has worked in construction and as a supervisor on different projects. Some sources suggest that he worked as a plantation supervisor in Jamaica, where he met his wife, Cedella.
Norval Marley: Marriage and Family
In the early 1940s, Norval met a young Black Jamaican woman named Cedella Booker. She was just 18 years old at the time, while Norval was close to his sixties. Such a significant age gap raised many concerns in their community.
Nonetheless, despite their social and racial differences, Norval and Cedella’s relationship evolved. Eventually, the two got married in 1945. That same year, Cedella gave birth to their only child, Robert Nesta Marley, known to the world as Bob Marley.
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Unfortunately, Norval’s involvement in Cedella’s life and in raising Bob was brief. Shortly after Bob’s birth, Norval left. Some sources claim he did it under family pressure, while others suggest that he just chose not to stay.
Though the estranged husband sent financial support from time to time, he had little direct contact with his son as he grew up. Even the few attempts Norval made to visit Cedella and Bob stopped when the kid was only five years old.
Another five years went by before Norval passed away from a heart attack in 1955.
Norval Marley’s Wife: Cedella Booker
While Norval stayed mostly in the background, the two people most affected by his absence were his wife and son.
You see, Cedella was just 18 years old when she met and married Norval, who was much older than her. After Bob’s birth and Norval’s disappearance, the young lady was left to raise their son on her own.
Image source: Google
Likely, this wasn’t the life Cedella expected to have when she married Norval, and it certainly wasn’t easy. She was a young Black Jamaican woman raising a child in rural Jamaica without much money or support.
Cedella was strong and determined to provide Bob with the best life she could. She worked hard and did her best to take care of her son. Moreover, she gave him an abundance of love and support. At the darkest times, she encouraged him to pursue his dreams and stay focused.
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