Her brother, John Q. Marr (1825–1861), taught at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as an assistant professor of mathematics and tactics after graduating, but he returned home in 1848 to care for his mother and sisters Sarah/Sally (1819-1895), Margaret (1830-1903), Frances, and Jane (1840-1927). Her brothers, Thomas Scott Marr (1830-1897) and James Ripon Marr (1832-1879), left home by 1850. Her brother, Robert Athelstan Marr (1823-1854), was a Lieutenant in the United States Navy; he took part in the Mexican–American War; fired the first shot in the naval attack on Vera Cruz; and was lost in the Caribbean Sea with the entire crew of the USS "Albany", in October, 1854.