Marie Evelyn Martin

As we come together to celebrate and honor our Beloved Marie Evelyn Martin, let us begin by praising God for welcoming her into His glorious presence. All, who truly knew her, know that she wanted nothing more than being with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, His Heavenly Father, and His Holy Spirit. In fact, she was eager for everyone to experience His unconditional love and saving grace, and to personally know, John 3:16 AMP “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] [a] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” On the day that we celebrate her, she would implore all listening, in person or via streaming service, to accept His Invitation to Life Eternal, and she would proclaim that you will make no greater, life decision. Selah, pause and calmly think about that. Marie Evelyn Martin is and will ever be “Dear” to her Beloved husband, Robert Lee Martin. Having known each other since childhood, Rob would declare Marie his first true love. Although they walked different paths into adulthood and created their own separate families, Marie and; Rob would come together later in their lives to find their love journey leading them directly to the Throne of Salvation. On Easter Sunday 1984, Marie accepted Jesus’ Invitation to Life and implored Rob do the same. The following week, Rob followed her and chose to live for Christ. Weeks later, on May 19, 1984, Marie Evelyn and Robert Lee joined their lives and their families together, and never looked back. Marie and Rob had no idea that they would have more than six children together. When Christ brought them together, He opened their doors to many who needed safety, security, and stability. They could never have known the amazing journey they would take in the Name of Jesus and all the lives that they would touch together in Him. Marie Evelyn Rogers Martin is and will always be her children’s “Mum; Queen Mother,” and her grandchildren’s ‘Memiere.’ Mum was the first superhero her children knew, balancing a 6, 4, 2 and 1 year old with limited resources, guidance, or support, and completing nursing school independently. In 1984, when Shelley and Gena joined the family, she purposed to teach the same lessons that she taught Maria, Arjay, Michelle and Ronn. Queen Mother modeled commitment, determination, and excellence, and perpetually relayed that we could do and be anything that we put our minds to do. Memiere shared the same life lessons with countless others through the years including her grandbabies. Over the years, Mother would also co-parent furbabies, Salt and Pepper, Fluffy, Happy, Spike, Animal, Madison, Clio, and Buddy as well as grandfurbabies, Joey and Leah. Marie Evelyn Crum is and will ever be her siblings’ ‘Marie or Rie-Rie,’ and her nephews’ and nieces’ ‘Auntie Marie.’ Being child 10 of 13 might have been daunting for someone else, but not her. Having a twin brother who went to heaven at birth, Marie had to assure the doctors that she was alive and well. Delores, Myrtle, Marjorie, Jesse, Alma, Anna, Winifred, Robert, Leroy, Melvin, Geraldine and William could attest that she was incredibly assertive, independent, and strong-willed. Throughout her life, she remained connected to her Crum family no matter the conflict, disagreement, or misunderstanding. Just as Romans 8:38-39 reads, 38 “ For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Marie wanted to love them with the Love of Jesus, despite knowing that she would fall short and fail to be Christ-like at times. She knew that God made them family and that unconditional love was His required love language. Marie Evelyn is and always will be ‘God’s servant to the ill and weary.’ She chose nursing because it allowed her to give to others and provide for them in their most trying times. She was not afraid to get dirty or go into dark places to assure others that they were not alone. Marie Evelyn considered it her life’s ministry and she would give her everything to provide comfort, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Marie Evelyn would ensure her own Queen Mother, Philomena, would receive the best care possible and be with her in the last days of her life. She would also walk many of her siblings through the last moments of their lives, helping them traverse dark times and navigate painful, debilitating illnesses. She considered it an honor and privilege to serve others and especially praised God when supporting family members. Her most difficult experiences included guiding her eldest son and daughter-in-law as they buried and grieved their unborn son, Jeremiah, and joining her Michelle as she battled stage 3a breast cancer, keenly aware that it should have taken her child to glory. Walking that cancer journey as a family became undisputably challenging due to the many complications and hospitalizations, but her expertise and professional knowledge combined with our dependence on Christ Jesus resulted in victory. Marie Evelyn no doubt has many stories beyond these, but they were her ministry and life’s calling. Marie Evelyn is her friends’ and church members’ ‘Sister in Christ.’ She lived to share the Love of God with everyone. For her, there was no more important matter than the condition of someone’s soul. Marie forever prayed the prayer of Jesus, John 17:25 “O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has never acknowledged You [and the revelation of Your mercy], yet I have always known You; and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.” No matter what you called Marie Evelyn, none would contest that the Most High God blessed her.

Marie Evelyn Martin

February 11, 2024