Modester Cobbins Martin

On Tuesday, March 25, at 4:39 pm, Modester Cobbins Martin accepted the call from her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to move from her earthly residence to her heavenly home. This faithful servant of God was born in Wolfe City, Texas, on February 16, 1925. She was the youngest of five children born to Robert and Mary Johnson Cobbins. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Helen, Alma, Laura B., and Nobel, Sr.

Modester accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and moved to Dallas as a young adult. She attended Butler College for two years and graduated from Phillip Business College, where she met her future husband, Larnzell Martin. Six children were born to their union, Larnzell (Dirk) Martin, Jr., Bowie, MD, a retired trial judge; Dolores Martin, artist/author; Annette Martin Lewis (Lee), Roanoke, VA, retired CEO of a community action agency; Cornelius Martin, licensed clinical social worker and business owner; Harold Mack Martin, Austin, TX, logic design engineer; and Gerald Anthony Martin, (Tonja) Round Rock, TX, process engineer and minister.

Sister Martin was a devoted wife and dedicated mother. Her dedication was evident in joining the Negro Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers. She was an active member until the organization was dissolved. That didn’t stop Sister Martin from supporting her children throughout their careers. She was active in the PTA at all of her children's schools, often serving as president. She also attended every high school and college graduation of her children while traveling near and far throughout the country, including Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.

Sister Martin was known for her culinary skills. Those skills enabled her to become a cafeteria manager for the Dallas Independent School District, where she retired.

Sister Martin was a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church and later became a founding member of Ebenezer Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, where she served faithfully as a deaconess, missionary, and Sunday School member until her health failed.

Sister Martin was a role model who taught her children to care about the needs of others. She didn’t hesitate to feed the hungry, give a drink of water to the thirsty, and comfort the sick and bereaved in her community. She also donated to charitable organizations and was a leader of the benevolent fund at Ebenezer. Sister Martin had a missionary heart and was a prayer warrior.

Church and family members joined Sister Martin to celebrate her 100th birthday. Reaching that milestone was an answer to her prayer. On March 25, she went on to be with the Lord.

Larnzell Martin, Sr., preceded Modester in death after 70 years of marriage. Left to cherish her memories are six children; one god-daughter, Kathy Brown; four grandchildren, Eric Lewis (Midlothian, VA), Patrice Lewis (Midlothian, VA), Ryia Martin (Round Rock, TX), and Taythir Martin (Round Rock, TX); three great grandsons, Troy, Paul, and Daniel Lewis (Chesterfield County, VA); two sisters-in-law, Sylvarine Hill (Mesquite, TX), and Marie Martin (San Antonio, TX), and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (KJV)