Dr. Martha F. Green

Reverend Dr. Martha F. Greene home to live with the saints. This was the last of two calls from God that she'd anxiously waited for many years. Martha was born here in Baltimore, Maryland on August 22, 1942 to the late John and Mamie Green, the sixth of ten children. Like her siblings, she was raised in a Christian home that was filled with the love of God and family. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at a very early age, always wanting to learn more about Him, always wanting to be closer to Him. She would sometimes tell her family, "I'm close to God." Martha was reared in the Baltimore City public school system, graduating from Edmondson High School in 1960. She also graduated from the Walters Academy School of Etiquette and Modeling, now based in New York City. She went on to train for a period at the Peabody Institute of Music. She was employed with the U.S. Postal Service for more than 25 years. Martha was multi-talented, innovative and always challenged others to believe, receive and achieve. She was a ground-breaker and a trendsetter to those of us who lived through the turbulent times of recent decades. For example, she was one of the first Black majorettes at her high school; one of the first Black secretaries to work for a General at the Aberdeen Proving Ground; the first and only one in our family to obtain a B.S., Masters and Doctorate Degrees. She won numerous modeling and beauty contests, became a professional photographer, and the list goes on. However, in spite of all of her talents and determination, there was still that deep-seeded yearning within Martha to get even closer to God. That yearning was rewarded when one morning while she was home alone, God called her to the ministry and she answered. She leaped for joy and told us that she had prayed to God for the "full armor" and that He had given it to her. From then on, Martha studied, received her ordination, tutored under the guidance of her pastor, Rev. Arnold Howard, received her Doctorate from Howard University, and reveled in her calling. She was strong in her faith. It manifested itself in Martha's overwhelming generosity and commitment to strangers and family alike. It was not unheard of for her to give her last dollar or her rent money to someone that she had heard was in need of help. She would give clothing, food, her time, her home at anytime. She sponsored a child in an underprivileged country. People called on her often to pull them out of serious trouble and she never let them down. When Martha's health began to fail about 2 years ago, she continued to remain strong in her faith. She told her family that she was ready to go home whenever God called her and that she was looking forward to her journey. Hearing from God was her favorite thing. She often told her family that God had "shown things to me." Her desire to be even closer to Him would be granted as soon as He called her one last time. So when He called her home on May 5, she was ready and answered. Once again, her faith was rewarded. Martha believed, achieved and received THE CALL she'd been waiting for a lifetime. Martha leaves to mourn: two brothers, James Allen and Jeremiah Green; three sisters, Miriam Gould, Myra McCullough and Melita Woodlon; two brothers-in-law, Clarence Johnson, Sr., and Don P. Gould, Sr.; seven god-children, John Wesley Green, Jeremiah and Tawnya Johnson, Donnie, Michelle and Laura Gould, and Candice Green-Woodlon; and a host of other brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and family friends.

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Dr. Martha F. Green

August 22, 1942 - May 5, 2005