Martha Lenora Dunn

Martha Lenora Dunn was born in Richmond, Virginia on November 15, 1931. She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Martha was employed by Virginia Commonwealth University for over 25 years. She also worked as a caregiver throughout her life. She was married to the late Ben F. Dunn, Sr. and together they raised five children-Gwendolyn, Deborah, Khadija, Albert and Winifred. Martha was a doting mother and often reflected on preparing her children a hot breakfast each morning, making their clothes and participating in PTA meetings. Martha loved the Lord and at an early age, joined Fourth Baptist Church. She would send her children to Sunday school and then meet them at the start of church service. They knew she better see them when she looked up into the balcony. In her mid-70s, she transferred her membership to Trinity Baptist Church where she attended bible study and once bedridden received prayers, clergy visits and communion in the home she shared with her oldest daughter. Martha was active in her community and was most proud of her volunteer efforts in encouraging her neighbors to vote during the Civil Rights Movement. She remained an advocate for voting rights throughout her later years and cast her final ballot in the 2012 Presidential Election. She loved to walk for exercise and would often turn down offers for rides from friends and neighbors that saw her in various areas of town. Martha took great pride in the way she dressed. She loved hats and wore them with total sophistication. She selected the finest apparel and loved to accessorize with glamorous jewelry and show-stopping shoes. Martha was most known for preparing delicious meals for her family and friends. She was a gracious host and lovingly set a beautiful table with china and crystal for her children, especially at Sunday dinners. She did not believe in saving the best for special occasions because any meal shared with those she loved was special to her. Martha was famous throughout every neighborhood she lived in for her “melt in your mouth”rolls and would prepare them for anyone that asked. She was preceded in death by her twin sister Mary B. Brown; husband, Ben F. Dunn, Sr.; and sons Albert F. Dunn, Sr. and Ben F. Dunn, Jr. She leaves to cherish her memory,sister,Marjorie Bess;daughters,Gwendolyn Young, Deborah Byrd(Melvin),Khadija Hinton and Winifred Otey(Richard);daughter-in-law, Gloria Dunn;13 grandchildren,LaVonya Thacker(Robert),Sabrina White,Badria Hinton-Jefferson(Cedric),Sherri Byrd, Linwood White(Teresa),Tamara Young-Elmore(Gene),Siddiq Hinton(Felicia),Arshad Hinton, Albert F. Dunn,Jr.,Taj Byrd,Mecca Hinton, Karen Byrd,and Furqan Hinton;19 great-grandchildren; loving niece,Sherella B. Brown;nephews,Elbert Brown, Jerome Brown, Darrell Brown, Tony Brown, and Tracy Brown(Nora);a host of other relatives and friends.

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Martha Lenora Dunn

November 15, 1931 - May 6, 2014