A faith that shines more bright and clear

when tempests rage without;

That when in danger knows no fear,

in darkness feels no doubt

— William Hiley Bathurst (1796 – 1877)

MAVIS Veronica Martin was eulogised as a woman of God and of great faith.

“I’ve never seen such a faith; such a will,” were the words from dear friend Dave “Pops” Hutton as he gave tribute. This was how he described the woman with whom he shared a decades-long friendship that span the changing scenes of life. He said she was such a good friend that her friends became his friends.

He added that she had an “unswerving faith in her God and had absolute trust in him”.

Such was the theme of the celebration for the life of Martin at East Queen Street Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 11, 2015.

A lover a music, the service was a veritable feast of hymns and spiritual songs as the various individuals and groups with whom she served ministered to the work and worth of Martin.

The tributes began with My faith looks up to Thee and God so loved the world sung by David Reid and Friends, a group with which Martin spent near 20 years. The East Queen Street Baptist Church Senior Choir augmented by Boulevard Baptist Church Choir then offered O Saviour Friend (Handel’s Largo). Friend Yvonne Miller then sang the spiritual Ain’t that good news, representing the North Street United Church with which Martin shared a good relationship. Marilyn Brice-MacDonald later joined Miller on Henry Smart’s arrangement of The Lord is my shepherd — a duet Miller sang with Martin on many occasions. Deacon Joseph McIntyre followed with a stirring rendition of I walk today where Jesus walked.

The musical presentation continued with an extended programme by the National Chorale of Jamaica. Martin having been a stalwart of this group for some 40 years, they delivered items from their catalogue of religious music: Sweet hour of prayer; Come, thou fount of every blessing; He watching over Israel from Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Battle Hymn of the Republic; among others.

Martin’s family also gave musical tributes at the thanksgiving service. Her grandson Jean-Paul Martin sang His eye is on the sparrow, a capella, after advising the congregation that it was with his grandmother’s prompting he first sang publicly in the very church.

In spoken tributes Martin was honoured as one who was extremely family-oriented. Her care overflowed for those she loved and she gave unsparingly of herself. Her sons Paul, Michael and Howard along with special niece Paula Brown were the “pearl of her eye”. Brown told of their special relationship using a poem. And sons Paul and Michael honoured their mother in her favourite pastimes of singing.

Martin served as choir member and musical director, among other capacities, at East Queen Street Baptist Church. Her work goes back to membership of the junior choir from 1954. She was said to have had a clean and critical ear for good music and was masterful at creating good sound.

Martin was an administrative professional, serving some three ministers of agriculture in different administrations and their permanent secretaries. She later moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the quality of her worked did not go unrecognised. In 2002, she was awarded the badge of honour for meritorious service at the presentation of national honours and awards at King’s House.

She loved flowers and was a proficient gardener. Stories abound of all the people, organisations and churches that benefited from her green thumb. She was a stickler for the use of standard English and grammar. Her eye for detail also contributed to her being a bastion of knowledge on protocol and social graces. Among her loves were also baking, badminton, giving, and hosting get-togethers.

Other musical offerings at the service included a instrumental arrangement of The Holy City by Jon Williams on violin, and It is well with my soul by Ian Hird on flute and saxophone. Godfrey Taylor accompanied him on piano. Miller sang a soulful Prayer Perfect (Dear Lord, kind Lord, gracious Lord, I pray). Long-time friend David Reid was reverent with How lovely are thy dwellings.

After the church choir presented a spirited Thine is the Kingdom, the massed choirs put a cap on the service of thanksgiving with Handel’s Hallejuah Chorus. The congregation responded with “amen”.

Martin was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008 and it never dimmed her faith in God. Hutton told the congregation that even when her bones became brittle and broke easily and doctors said she would never walk again, Martin defied medicine and became strong again by her faith. She believed that God would take care of her.

Rev Dr Roy Henry, who delivered the sermon, spoke of “faith being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Her charged the congregation to draw close to God and live lives of faith as did Martin.

“Sister Mavis Martin lived by faith, walked by faith, giving of herself in faithful service to God,” Rev Henry said. “She had her share of pain and suffering, but she remained connected [to God]. She had a faith that did not bow to human condition… May her faith live on.”

Hutton at the end of his rememberance said that based on the life Martin lived there was no doubt it is well with her soul and that she would hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.”

Lord, give me such a faith as this,

and then, whate’er may come,

I taste e’en now the hallowed bliss

of an eternal home

— William Hiley Bathurst (1796 – 1877)