Martha Queen

MARTHA QUEEN, born October 12, 1947 to the late John Henry and Pearl Smith in Florence County, South Carolina, was called to rest after a long battle with cancer at her home surrounded by her family on November 10, 2013 . She received her education in North Carolina and Baltimore City public schools. Martha or “Mark,” as she was affectionately known, worked for DLLR as a claims examiner for thirty-four years before she retired. Martha, the youngest of her six siblings, was preceded in death by her brothers Earl and Jacob and her sisters Thelma and Missionary Mary Ann Harrid. She was raised in the church and baptized at a young age. She sang on the choir and was a member of the Pentecostal Jerusalem Faith Hope and Charity Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Adams S. Keels where she was a member until her death. In 1967 Martha met the love of her life Adolph M. Queen, and after dating for several years they were married on June 8, 1974. Together they raised six children. Martha was known as the neighborhood mother. Whenever she had an event at the house she could always look forward to a house filled with neighborhood children. She was a dear friend, always ready to prepare a meal for the sick and bereaved, never expecting a penny for it. She loved to cook and made sure that her children and grandchildren knew a little about it also. She would often dote over her grandchildren, and took great joy in the holidays. Her friends knew her to be dependable to the end and she could be counted on, no matter what the circumstances. She was kind and loved to sing and listen to her gospel music. She was a joyful soul and will be greatly missed . She leaves to mourn: her husband of thirty-nine years, Adolph M Queen; her sister, Mother Gertrude Gamble; her cousin, Pastor Caroline Watson; her six children, sons James W. McNeill Jr. (wife Kathleen), Michael J. McNeill Sr., Jacob McNeill Sr. (wife Eugenia), David R. Queen and daughters Rosalind M. McNeill and Shannel Holmes (husband Damon); one very special nephew who was like a son and best friend to her, Ronnie Presley; three brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends…AND of course her grandchildren, Ashley McNeill, Atyia Sanders, Ty-Nicca Sanders, Marsyl Sanders, Paul Tinson Jr., Gregory Johnson, Craig Johnson, Chris Johnson, Michael J. McNeill Jr., Camilla Lynch, Charleen McNeill, Jacob MeNeill Jr., Shannon McNeill, Adolph McNeill, Casey McNeill, Shawn Cherry, David Queen Jr., Jamar Queen, Tayvon Queen, Kyran Queen, Devin Queen, De-Sha Queen, Michael Palmer, Ty-Keysha Palmer, Nicole Queen, James Workman, Dontrey Holmes, Dyemond Holmes; and three great-grandchildren, Beautiful, Willow, and Jaycian.

Tributes

Martha Queen

October 12, 1947 - November 10, 2013