Obituary of Martha Allen Harris

Martha Allen Harris, daughter of the late Arthur and Mozelle Allen, was born in Cumberland County, VA on May 24, 1926. She was educated in the local public schools. At an early age, Martha accepted Christ and was baptized at Rocky Mount Baptist Church in Cumberland County. In a family of 12 children, Martha was the eldest daughter and known to help take care of her younger siblings. Upon her completion of the 12th grade, Martha moved to Passaic, NJ, to live with her Uncle David and Aunt Rosa Allen where she worked as a seamstress. Martha was joined in marriage to Marcus Lee Harris (deceased) in 1944. They were married for 44 years until her husband's passing in 1988. From that union was born Ronald (deceased), Vincent, Marcus, Phillip, Paul and Cheryl. After marriage Martha moved to Harlem, NY, where she joined and was an active member of Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Bronx, NY. She was a member of the church's Nursing Unit. She also participated in the Baptist Training Unit (BTU), visiting sick and shut-in, Sunday school and the children's nursery. In 1992, Martha received a celebration ceremony and recognition from Walker Memorial Baptist Church for 30 years of service. In her early years in New York, Martha was a homemaker and the childcare provider for many working mothers in the New York community. She also worked as a part-time Certified Nursing Assistant during her children's formative years and an active member in the PTA. Many of her siblings lived with her family in New York as they looked for work or pursued vocational and higher education. In 1972, Martha earned her license as a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked at Goldwater Memorial Hospital in New York City until retirement in 1987. In 1993, Martha moved back "home" to Cumberland County, VA. She erected a home on the family property next door to her sister Georgia. Along with their sister Jacqueline, Martha enjoyed many years of family gatherings and activities with sisters, brother Barry, nieces, nephews, other relatives and longtime family friends. Martha was an active and beloved member of Rocky Mount Baptist Church and the local community. In 2003, Martha had a brief illness and moved near her daughter Cheryl in Arlington, VA. Martha is remembered as a kind, sweet person with quiet strength who was always concerned with everyone's well-being. After several years of declining health, Martha departed this life on September 11, 2012 in Arlington, VA. Her faith in the Lord was steadfast throughout her entire life. She regularly attended hymn sings, Bible study and church services throughout her years in Arlington, VA. She loved music and enjoyed attending plays, concerts, knitting club and looked forward every year to the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas family gatherings hosted by her nephews in Raleigh, NC and Baltimore, MD. She was preceded in death by six brothers, James Allen, John Allen, Oliver Allen, Basil Allen, Arthur Allen, and Sidney Allen, and three sisters, Ada Allen Watkins, Jackie Allen Armwood, and Jean Allen Settle. Those left to cherish her memory are: her sons, Vincent Abdur-Rahman, Phillip (Tina) Harris and Paul (Woodrina) Harris, of New York, NY; Marcus (Monica) Harris of Huntington Beach, CA; her daughter Cheryl Harris of Arlington, VA; her sister Georgia (Richard) Foster; her brother Barry Allen, brother-in-law Charles Settle, sisters-in-law, Allie Allen, Odell Allen, Lorene Allen and Leanna Allen; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and grandnephews and grandnieces, cousins and devoted friends.