Deaconess Sever D. Martin

Deaconess Sever D. Martin, formerly of Harrisburg, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, on Friday, June 3, 2011, at the blessed age of 96 at the Masonic Village Health Care Center, Elizabethtown, PA. She was the wife of the late Deacon Willie G Martin who died in 1994. Born in Hogansville, GA she was the daughter of the late Rev. George Wilson and Eva (Stewart) Banks. Deaconess Martin was retired from the Harrisburg Children's Dress Factory and also a past employee of the PA Department of Transportation for several years. Deaconess Martin was a member of Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member serving as a Deaconess ,on the Senior Usher Board, the Senior Choir and a variety of other positions and activities with her church family for nearly 50 years until she was no longer able to attend. She leaves behind fond memories of her coconut cakes, her love of fishing, gardening, and traveling to visit her children. She was also known for her beautiful hats and clothes. Deaconess Martin was a great prayer warrior. Her greatest desire was to see all of her family saved. Mrs. Martin leaves to cherish her memories, five daughters: Jessie Branch of Harrisburg, Mary Braxton of CA, Doris Preston (Lamont) of Fort Washington, MD, Virginia Goff of Linden, NJ and Pearl Chapman (Eugene) of Linden, NJ, 26 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren and 38 great-great grandchildren, three sisters-in-law, Annie Mae Banks, Nellie Banks both of Harrisburg, and Juanita Daniel of Tacoma, Washington, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by 13 brothers and sisters, a grandson, 3 great grandchildren, and a son in-law. Relatives and friends are respectively invited to attend her funeral service at the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 212 N. Progress Ave. Harrisburg on Thursday June 9, 2011 at 11 a.m. Burial will be in William Howard Day Cemetery, Swatara Township. There will be a public viewing at the church on Thursday from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the service.