Obituary for Martha Eunice Harper (Carter)
Martha Eunice Carter Jones Harper, the fifth child born to the Late Clarence Carter, Sr. and the late Maude Virginia Snead Carter was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia on July 20, 1922 and was called home to be with the Lord on January 14, 2021. Martha was raised in a close-knit Christian home where dignity and respect were key elements of familial relations. Martha and her late siblings Clarence, Wilfred and Iva shared a deep love for one another, supporting and protecting each other throughout their lives. Even after the demise of her siblings, Martha maintained close family relations with her nieces and nephews and their families.
When Martha was four years of age, her family joined the army of African-Americans in the exodus from the South and moved to Orange, New Jersey to pursue a better quality of life. Although her father had been a deacon at New Grove Baptist Church in Lunenburg, it was at the age of eight when she was baptized by Pastor Rev. Dr. James H. Hughes and became a member of Union Baptist Church in Orange, NJ. Her baptism marked the beginning of a lifetime devoted to the study of the word of God.
Always interested in pursuing scholarly ideals, Martha’s keen intellect and graceful demeanor were recognized in her youth. Among her man accomplishments, she was a poet and an author. Martha was one of the top six in the graduating class of 1940 at Orange High School. Following high school graduation, she pursued higher education at Cheyney State Teachers College, now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree.
She was united in holy wedlock to the late James E. Jones, A.B., B.D., D.D. on May 17, 1947, and was blessed with a son, Jameson, and a daughter, the late Maudine (Dina) Wynette. Jonesy, as her husband was called, was the father of a daughter from a previous marriage, the late Shirley Terry with whom Martha had a warm relationship. Martha and Jonesy lived throughout the South during their marriage, living in Virginia, Birmingham, AL, Dallas, TX, and finally settling in Washington, DC. Martha and Jonesy were great collaborators, and it was interesting to see them work together to prepare his weekly sermons. Their marriage lasted until Jonesy was called home to be with the Lord on January 25, 1988.
Martha subsequently became reacquainted with a childhood friend William T. Harper, D.D.S., and was united in wedlock with him on May 6, 1989. Bill, as she referred to him, had three children by his first marriage, William, Jr. (Billy), Gail, and Byron Dudley. The happy couple made their home in Roanoke, VA., a city they selected in order to be equidistant from each of their children.
After Bill was called home to be with the Lord on June 7, 2004, Martha made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Azell Nelson (who Martha loved like a son) and their son Shane - first in Manassas, VA, and then in Durham, NC, where Martha has lived until her homegoing.
In every city in which she lived, Martha established a church home that became central to her being. Martha’s life was a wonderful reflection of her belief in Almighty God. Recently, Martha was accurately described as being a “…gentle soul with an omnipresent smile….A refined, dignified Lady.” In her autobiography “Always Martha,” she shared her philosophy of life: Face Life with Courage --- and Live, a principle she based on Scripture as found in John 16:33 where Jesus said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: - but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” Her life, and her omnipresent smile reflected the internalization of her philosophy, as well as her deep abiding faith in the word of God.
Martha loved scripture, people, family and ice cream! She will be remembered for her wise counsel, her generous loving spirit, and her calm, nurturing presence. She leaves to celebrate her memory her son Jameson Carter, grandson Shane Nelson, his wife Rhyan and their son Hudson, along with a host of step-children, step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Martha has requested that donations in her name be made to Virginia Union University (https://www.vuu.edu/alumni/make-a-gift) or High Street Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA (http://www.highstreetbaptistchurch.org/make-a-donation.html)
Lovingly submitted,
The family
I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. ~2 Timothy 4:7
When Martha was four years of age, her family joined the army of African-Americans in the exodus from the South and moved to Orange, New Jersey to pursue a better quality of life. Although her father had been a deacon at New Grove Baptist Church in Lunenburg, it was at the age of eight when she was baptized by Pastor Rev. Dr. James H. Hughes and became a member of Union Baptist Church in Orange, NJ. Her baptism marked the beginning of a lifetime devoted to the study of the word of God.
Always interested in pursuing scholarly ideals, Martha’s keen intellect and graceful demeanor were recognized in her youth. Among her man accomplishments, she was a poet and an author. Martha was one of the top six in the graduating class of 1940 at Orange High School. Following high school graduation, she pursued higher education at Cheyney State Teachers College, now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree.
She was united in holy wedlock to the late James E. Jones, A.B., B.D., D.D. on May 17, 1947, and was blessed with a son, Jameson, and a daughter, the late Maudine (Dina) Wynette. Jonesy, as her husband was called, was the father of a daughter from a previous marriage, the late Shirley Terry with whom Martha had a warm relationship. Martha and Jonesy lived throughout the South during their marriage, living in Virginia, Birmingham, AL, Dallas, TX, and finally settling in Washington, DC. Martha and Jonesy were great collaborators, and it was interesting to see them work together to prepare his weekly sermons. Their marriage lasted until Jonesy was called home to be with the Lord on January 25, 1988.
Martha subsequently became reacquainted with a childhood friend William T. Harper, D.D.S., and was united in wedlock with him on May 6, 1989. Bill, as she referred to him, had three children by his first marriage, William, Jr. (Billy), Gail, and Byron Dudley. The happy couple made their home in Roanoke, VA., a city they selected in order to be equidistant from each of their children.
After Bill was called home to be with the Lord on June 7, 2004, Martha made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Azell Nelson (who Martha loved like a son) and their son Shane - first in Manassas, VA, and then in Durham, NC, where Martha has lived until her homegoing.
In every city in which she lived, Martha established a church home that became central to her being. Martha’s life was a wonderful reflection of her belief in Almighty God. Recently, Martha was accurately described as being a “…gentle soul with an omnipresent smile….A refined, dignified Lady.” In her autobiography “Always Martha,” she shared her philosophy of life: Face Life with Courage --- and Live, a principle she based on Scripture as found in John 16:33 where Jesus said: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: - but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” Her life, and her omnipresent smile reflected the internalization of her philosophy, as well as her deep abiding faith in the word of God.
Martha loved scripture, people, family and ice cream! She will be remembered for her wise counsel, her generous loving spirit, and her calm, nurturing presence. She leaves to celebrate her memory her son Jameson Carter, grandson Shane Nelson, his wife Rhyan and their son Hudson, along with a host of step-children, step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Martha has requested that donations in her name be made to Virginia Union University (https://www.vuu.edu/alumni/make-a-gift) or High Street Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA (http://www.highstreetbaptistchurch.org/make-a-donation.html)
Lovingly submitted,
The family
I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. ~2 Timothy 4:7