Martha Lee Lewis

Martha Lee (Jackson) Lewis

September 1, 1945 - June 27, 2026

The name Martha primarily originates from the Aramaic word martaʾ, which means "lady of the house” (the feminine form of "master" or "lord"). It has long been associated with strength, hospitality, and practical domestic responsibility.

To everything there is a season, and A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3 1-8

Extra, Extra read all about it! Heaven recently gained a beautiful soul and a Great woman of Hospitality. Martha Lee Lewis (aka Mom, Grams, Grandma, Auntie, Aunt/Auntie Diva, Marty) has entered the gates of heaven, well rested and bringing her A- game. Martha has always known “Presentation is Everything”. A true Jackson DIVA. Always the stylish and camera-ready glamour girl. Early in life, she determined and embraced her personal beauty and fashion style. Her distinctive way dictated how she spoke, acted, and dressed. Martha respected the constant changing of Fashion and adapted accordingly to the very end, fully capturing her beauty inside and out. In her later years, Martha rocked the fashion scene with her stylish baseball caps, sporty/dressy outfits, accessorized with jewelry inventory that spanned over three main quality categories, Fine, Bridge/Fashion, and Costume. Her favorite colors were Yellow, Black, and White. Let’s not forget the Make-up, Hair and Nails- Always Done! 😊

Characteristics: To the very end, Martha was a warm, loving, generous individual who created welcoming environments, making others feel valued. Her characteristics included Integrity, Generosity, Attentiveness, and Openness.

Martha’s absolute favorite people were her daughters Candra and Sandra, sons-in-law Marshall Sr and Kenneth (Kenny), and grandchildren Dyonna and Marshall Jr. She enjoyed spending time together and cherishing individual moments with each of them in her own way. Her favorite canines were her Beagle- Snow, Yorkie-Chloe, Shih-Poo- Mellow, and Shih-Poo- Kobe who were always extremely happy to see Grandma and always showed her unconditional Love.

Martha’s hobbies were Photography (loved taking photos of herself, family, and friends), Sewing (making clothes for her and her daughters), Air Travel (loved experiencing new places Domestic and Abroad), Road Trips (via Car or Bus to anywhere and everywhere, short, long, it didn’t matter, for the journey was her destination).

Martha’s FAVORITES:

Place to Visit- Atlantic City, NJ (“America’s Playground”) loved the food, the boardwalk, the pier, live entertainment, upscale shopping, attractions, visits with family and friends, and most of all her lady luck streaks at the Casinos on the slot machines (her advice to all- “Never playback your winnings.”). Infinity Diner (near her home) every Sunday for breakfast with her daughter Candra and sometimes other family.

Music Artists- Jackie Wilson (R & B), Sam Cooke (Soul), and Tina Turner (Rock & Roll).

Cars: Sports Cars- particularly the Chevrolet Corvette (Love, Love, Loved it for its beauty and style). Muscle Cars like the Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger, and Chevrolet Camaro for the powerful engines and Attitude.

Drinks- Coke with No ICE, Starbucks’ Lattes, Coffee with French Vanilla creamer, Large Milkshakes, oh yeah, and sometimes water-😊)

Foods- Breakfast: Grits with American Cheese, Sunnyside eggs, bacon, and coffee. Lunch/Dinner: Shrimp and Grits, Mac N Cheese, Yams, New England Clam Chowder, Steak, Broccoli, the list goes on.

Desserts- Ice Cream, Cakes, Pies, Danishes (wait, what- Everything- LOL).

Where did this beautiful woman come from you ask? Well, here’s a little history. Martha Lee Lewis was born in Buena Vista, Georgia on September 1, 1945, to Mack Arthur Jackson Sr. and Flora Mae (Slaughter) Jackson. She was the youngest of 10 children (five girls and five boys). At an early age she learned the value of hard work from her parents when working on their farm. At the age of 15, Martha migrated from Buena Vista, Georgia to New York City with her second oldest sister Bertha Mae. A few years later their brothers Willie and Felton joined them. Bertha, Willie, and Martha became members of Revelation Church of God in Christ, located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Martha later led the charge for the Hospitality ministry at the church.

Several years later, Martha remained in New York, but branched out on her own, however, she always stayed connected and lived close to her sister and brothers, and their families. Although her life was in New York, she always stayed loyal to her parents and returned home for a short visit with them every Summer. In the early 70s and for several years, her parents joined her and her siblings in New York and resided with their daughter Bertha Mae on Washington Ave in Brooklyn. Their home was directly across the street from Flora Mae’s sister Sally (Slaughter) Gardner and her family, and only a few blocks from Revelation Church of God in Christ where Bertha, Willie, and Martha were members. Every Sunday was a great time with family. Every Sunday after church, everyone would meet up at Grandma and Granddaddy’s house for dinner and Grandma’s delicious multi-tier caramel cakes (oh yes).

On August 23, 1969, Martha gave birth to twin daughters, Candra and Sandra Brown. They were her pride and joy and became her purpose in life. She invested everything in her power to ensure her daughters had everything they needed. During their younger years, Martha purchased fabric and made most of their outfits. The twins always looked sharp and fashionable like their mom. She instilled in them the values of education (both daughters achieved college degrees), integrity, independence, self-confidence, and character that is built from hard work, kindness, and respect (Til her peaceful transition, she had a lifelong, love, bond, and friendship with her daughters).

While raising her daughters, Martha further advanced her education, and landed her dream job at a well-known photography store chain named O’Henry Film Works, Inc. located on Madison Ave in Manhattan, New York City. She had a wonderful passion for photography and mastered the skill of capturing natural and posed pictures, for preservation of memories. Martha’s genuine hospitality fed into her customer service presentation. Her customers loved her professionalism, knowledge, guidance, personality and the quality of products and services so much, she was promoted to manager of her own store.

The management position gave her free rein to run the store as she saw fit, resulting in her store being the top performer and highest revenue generator of all the company’s chain of stores for many years until she retired.

In February 1980, Martha Lee Lewis and Henry Foster Lewis married in Brooklyn, New York. During their 40 plus years, they enjoyed fishing, domestic and international travel, and many road trips and time with their families (which included annual football tailgate parties). In the late 80s Henry and Martha moved to Irvington, New Jersey, where they resided until his passing in February 2016. In late 2017 Martha was invited to live with her daughter Candra and her family in West Babylon, NY and she gladly accepted.

Once Martha relocated to West Babylon, New York with Candra and her family, she enjoyed building a closer relationship with her brother Willie who lives in Queens, NY, which is only a 30-minute car ride away (woohoo-Road Trip). They talked on the phone every day. They were best friends. When she wasn’t hanging out with the Silver Saints ministry at First Church of Wyandanch Ministries, her many friends at the North Amityville Senior Center, performing election inspector duties, or visiting with her daughter Sandra and son-in-law Kenny in Florida, she was visiting in person with her brother Willie. Chatting away and watching Wrestling and other TV shows.

Willie and Martha’s last visit together was Thursday, June 18, 2026, before leaving on Saturday, June 20, 2026, for her final Road Trip car drive from New York to Auburndale Florida with her daughter Candra, to spend time with her daughter Sandra and son-in-law Kenny and to see the newly built house with her new en suite bedroom that her daughter Candra and son-in-law Marshall Sr built.

“My flesh and my heart fail, But God is the Strength of my heart and my portion forever.” -Psalm 73:26

Martha Lee Lewis, 80 years old, a resident of West Babylon, NY 11704, comfortably transitioned to heaven on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 3:15pm, during a brief stay at Lakeland Regional Health hospital, Lakeland, Florida. Mom was surrounded by her daughters and sons-in-law.

Martha Lewis’ LEGACY lives on through her…

TWIN DAUGHTERS: Candra Winston (husband/son-in-law Marshall Winston Sr.) and Sandra Moore (husband/son-in-law Kenneth Moore).

GRANDCHILDREN: Dyonna Winston and Marshall Winston Jr.

(Grandma will be missed) by her Beloved Grand canines- Snow, Chloe, Mellow, and Kobe

BROTHERS: Mack Arthur Jackson Jr. (FL), Fred Jackson (FL), Willie Jackson (NY),

AUNT: Sarah Hollis (NC), SISTERS-IN-LAW: Mary Lizzie (FL), Maude Jackson (GA), Ruby Jackson (FL), and Lula Jackson (NY)

EVERYONE whose lives she touched (an abundance of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Family and Friends).

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.” – William JamesMy life, my time, is not my own. It belongs to Christ, and it’s His name that will last; only when I live to influence others for Him, will I leave an enduring legacy. I will be forgotten one day. Only what I do for God, how I fulfill the purpose for which He made me, will remain. – Author Unknown

Reunited with Martha in Heaven….

Parents: Mack Arthur Jackson Sr. and Flora Mae (Slaughter) Jackson, Sisters: Nellie Mae Teel, Bertha Mae Martin, Dollie Ruth Strozier, Pearline Smith, Brothers: Felton Jackson, and Edward Jackson, and Husband: Henry Foster Lewis.

In celebration of Martha Lewis’ life, a Memorial Celebration Service and Repast will be held for family and friends on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM -2:00 PM at First Church of Wyandanch Ministries (“FCWM”), located at 85 Parkway Blvd, Wyandanch, NY 11798.

In accordance with Martha’s wishes for cremation, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale, Florida, personally and compassionately managed every step, including safely, respectfully, and personally surrendering her ashes to her daughters’ care at the family’s home in Auburndale, Florida.

In days following the NY Memorial Celebration and Repast service, per her request, a private ash scattering ceremony with immediate family, will take place in ocean waters in her favorite place, Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Play those slots Martha, play those slots. 😊)

Details regarding the 2nd Memorial Celebration to be held in the state of Florida will be communicated well in advance of its event date (yet to be determined).

Memorial Trees in honor of Martha Lee Lewis will be planted creating a lasting tribute and supporting our planet's health.

If you would like to honor Martha with a gift, memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association. Your tax-deductible gift will help protect families’ hearts by funding lifesaving cardiovascular research. Please visit https://heart.org

Thanking you in advance for your donation in the memory of Martha Lewis and for the many lives your donations will save.

Visit Kersey Funeral Home | Cremation & Funeral Services in Auburndale, FL

To Review

Martha’s obituary, videos, special messages, share memories, post photos, light a candle, send flowers, plant a tree in her memory, send a card, etc.

Acknowledgments and Special Thanks to:

• Message from Sandra to Candra in 2017, one year after the loss of her husband Henry, we realized our mom required a strong support system. With my financial education background, structured mindset and structured skillset, it was determined that I would take on the role of mom’s fiduciary to create a solid safety net for her.
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Candra, with you being retired from the NYPD, possessing 19 years’ experience caring for your mother-in-law while raising your children, having a strong church and community footprint, it was decided that you would be best to be mom’s primary caregiver. Icing on the cake, she was less than an hour away from her brother Willie.

Sister to Sister, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to you Candy for your selfless devotion and compassionate care of our mom over the last 9 years. Her time with you gave her mental, physical, and emotional well-being, reliable inner circle, moral backing, and trusted social networks.

I am forever grateful to you, your husband Marshall Sr., your children/her grandchildren Dyonna and Marshall Jr. for extraordinary care, patience, and unwavering support during Mom’s time with you all. Well Done!

Forever Thankful to First Church of Wyandanch Ministries (FCWM) for always showing and treating Martha (Mom) with Love, strong Support system, Grace, and Kindness. Thank you all for the continued love, support and fellowship you bestow on her family.

Silver Saints Ministry and Scholarship Ministry (FCWM) for always providing a safe, loving, caring, joyous environment for Mom. Also, for planning and executing great adventures like the most recent bus trips to The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Baltimore Maryland on 4/25/26 and Sight & Sound Theater (premiering Joshua), Ronks, PA on 5/30/26.

Forever Diamonds, Massapequa Family for always keeping Mom’s jewelry game up to par along with all the smiles and laughter.

North Amityville Senior Center Team for always creating great daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly activity and event itineraries that kept Mom interested, engaged, and surrounded by good people she considered friends. Recent outing event attended Shen Yun show at Lincoln Center in NYC on 3/28/26.

To all of our Family, Friends, and Co-Workers for thinking of us, showering us with love, prayers, support, a kind word, sharing pictures, and sharing your skillsets, etc. We Thank You and Appreciate You.

Janeen Houston, for her thoughtfulness and creativity in the creation of the “Martha Lee Lewis- Celebration of Life” collage.

Cousin William Paytee for helping us share Martha’s life story through video and AI. Your talent, skill, and work ethic are extraordinary and priceless.

Dr. Karen Montebello and staff at Long Island Medical Center for years of care and special treatment, helping Martha to preserve good health that contributed to a full and well-lived life.

To the staff and students at Long Island School for the Gifted and Eastwoods, for always treating our mom with grace, kindness, and respect whenever she visited or attended scheduled events.

The Family wishes to extend a special heartfelt thank you to the Staff at Lakeland Regional Health (Lakeland FL), hospital, for their immediate and exceptional care, respect, and compassion for our mother and her family during a difficult time.

Kersey Funeral Home (Auburndale, FL) Team for taking care of our mom and assisting in her final wishes and for checking in often on the family. The experience is forever cemented in our hearts, as mimicked by the calm following a dark tumultuous storm.