Martha Mary Jane Collins

Martha Mary Jane Collins, Affectionately known as “Mama Sarah”, the 8th child was born to spiritual and loving parents, Isaiah and S.E. Goldie Parker Gordy, in Parsonsburg, MD on February 13, 1936. All her siblings preceded her in death except for her sister and best friend, Hilda. Since Martha was the youngest, she always hung around her older siblings and cousins; therefore she gained much wisdom and insight at an early age. Her family was musically talented in voice and instruments. She sang alto in the Church Choir. Watching her mother play the Organ gave her the desire to teach herself to play the piano at age 7. She was asked to play Church songs (by ear) in the old Tabernacle in Suffolk, VA in 1986. Her love of God and the Church started at the tender age of 8. She joined the Church of God and Saints of Christ under the pastorship of Elder Wilmer Parker and was baptized with her brother, Daniel, sisters Hilda and Basheba and Cousins John, Ruth and Maybelline. This Baptism occurred on August 20, 1944 in Parsonsburg, Maryland and was performed by the late then Evangelist Jehu A. Crowdy, Sr. Martha was educated at Glass Hill Elementary School in Parsonsburg, Md. And Salisbury Colored High School in Salisbury Md. She moved to Baltimore Md. In her teens with her Sister Elizabeth and her husband, Elder Robert Tucker, and graduated from Cortez Peters Business School. A young man by the name of Howard Collins caught her eye in the mid 1950’s and he crooned his way into her heart. They were married by the late Elder Charles Johnson on June 15, 1958. From this union came Phoebe Rene and twin Martha Elizabeth and Anna Rochelle. Howard preceded her in death on December 20, 2008. Martha started working in the school system as a Secretary at School # 32, Gilford Elementary in Baltimore, MD. Her administrative skills were continued at the Hyman Blumberg Day Care Center as a secretary. She was then requested by Rev. Samuel Daniels to be his secretary at Emmanuel Christian Community Church after there she retired from the State of Maryland Child Support Division as a Child Support Specialist. Martha was always WORKING, always ASKING QUESTION, always DOING SOMETHING, always COOKING- COD FISH CAKES anyone? She was known as the Social Working of the Baltimore Tabernacle Extended. It didn’t matter who you were or where you live, if you need her help, she was “Jackie of All Trades”, her heart was pure as gold for she never wanted anyone to down another person, she found the GOOD in everyone. The qualities Martha possessed were noticed by the late Bishop H.Z. Plummer, who appointed her to the office of “Mother Sarah” of the Daughters Auxiliary in the Baltimore Tabernacle in 1969. She held this position until she was made Emeritus in 2004 by Elder Charles Harris. The Love of the Church and the Daughters work # 1 in her life. She always had her mind on projects to help the church, always trying to motivate the daughters and the brethren to do the work set forth by Prophet. The daughters work continued to be her passion throughout her illness. She expressed to each daughter what to do for the growth of the Daughters Quorum. “Mama Sarah” was a mover and a shaker. She could stir you up, pump you up and before you knew it you were hooked into saying, “I can do it”, “I’m going to get the job done”, “you can count on me”. Mama Sarah was a Designers Original. God made her especially for US. She had many sons and daughters in the Church and she loved each and every one of them. In her conversations with you she would say in her high pitched voice “What you say”, “No you didn’t”, “You got to have a vision, without a vision the people perish”, “The Daughters are the backbone of the Church”. Can you hear her? “Thank You Grand Father”. In the 1980’s the Daughters Quorum under Mother Sarah, Martha Collins’ leadership sponsored a Women’s Day Program and invited Oprah Winfrey to be the Guest Speaker. In 2011 Mama Sarah petitioned Jerilynn, Rachel, to create her own personal letter head so she could send a letter to Oprah to solicit funds for the daughters work. This was done from her hospital bed. Martha was always teaching, always encouraging her grandchildren. She would tell them “Don’t be on the dessert because the dessert has no water, no life, nothing; it’s hot and dry. When you’re out of focus you’re on the dessert, so STAY OFF THE DESSERT”, “STAY FOCUSED”. Not only was she an engaging ROCK to her family and church, she was an inspiration to her community and friends. Her cousin, Ruth admires her so that she quotes a poem today that Martha used to recite by Carrie Phoebe, “THEY DIDN’T THINK”. Her last family affair was at “headquarters”(an affectionate name she called her niece, Eunice’s home), she later changed it to “Jerusalem”, a home place for the saints. Here she expressed her last idea- to have a Family Reunion and Sponsor a Chair Drive for the Tabernacle at the Church’s headquarters in Suffolk, Va. She wrote letters and sent them to family members, did you receive yours? Martha defiled all odds before. Her Faith in God, her Confidence in her Leader, and Love for the Church and Daughters work brought her though. Then God saw her getting tired, her beloved husband called her to him and she peacefully crossed over on January 22, 2012 at 2:58 p.m. “WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFULL SERVANT….. ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD”. She leaves those who love and cherish her memory: 3 daughters, Phoebe (Anthony), Martha (Stephon) and Anna; 6 grandchildren, Vincent, Brittany, Shekinah, Larie, Nasya, and Henson, Jr.; 1 sister, Hilda O. Byrd; 1 sister-in-law, Ruth Collins, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Tributes

Martha Mary Jane Collins

February 13, 1936 - January 22, 2012