Pastor Martha E. Blackwell

Martha Locus was born on May 29th , 1938 in Wilson, North Carolina to Evelyn May Drew And Matthew Locus. She departed this life on January 21, 2012. she attended school in Wilson County School System. She graduated in 1956 and married the late Oscar Lee Sanders on July 7 of that same year, and faithfully remained married for over 49 years. They moved to Baltimore, Maryland where they were blessed with a daughter, Brenda, and a son, Oscar, Jr. During these early years, Pastor Sanders attended Douglas Business School , and Sinai School of Nursing where she prepared as a medical technician. She subsequently, joined the Baltimore City Public School system where she was employed for 31 years. Pastor Sanders accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and was born again in 1977 at Olivet Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop W. Watson. She taught Sunday school and served as counselor of the New Members fellowship while there. Martha Sanders was called to the ministry in 1985 and was licensed to preach and ordained as an Evangelist. Pastor Sanders moved her membership to Power of faith Church where she served as Sunday school teacher, taught new members, and preached in the the Wednesday Noon Day neigborhood Outreach Program. Time was also devoted to street evangelism, nursing home ministry and prison ministry. Later, she moved her ministry to New hope Life Ministry under Pastor Thurman Cogdell where she ministered as assistant pastor. She also assistant Pastor Gregory Schroeder in ministry.Martha Sanders received an AA Degree in Bibical Studies, and began work on a bachelor's degree. This was curtailed for a while due to the unexpected, but extented illness of her husband. These personal responsibities consumed much of her time, energy, and focus. Her beloved Oscar passed away Christmas Day, 2005. Pastor Sanders was ordained as Elder in January 2005, under the leadership of Bishop Larry R. Exum. On Resurrection Sunday, April 2000, True Believers Temple Church was born under the pastoral leadership of of Martha Sanders. In August of 2006 she married Lawrence Blackwell. She leaves to mourn: one daughter Brenda lee Sanders, one son Oscar Lamont Sanders, one God-son Steven Richardson,two grandsons Dominic Sanders, and Myron Perry, two brothers Matthews A. Locus of Grovetown, Georgia and George Locus of Brooklyn, New York, one brother-in-law Frank Sanders. A host of nieces and nephews, many relatives and friends

Tributes

Pastor Martha E. Blackwell

May 29, 1938 - January 21, 2012