Martha H. Cheeks

Mrs. Martha H. Cheeks went peacefully home to be with the Lord on August 18, 2012 at 10:26 p.m. at the Washington Hospital Center. She was born on October 8, 1926 to the late Campbell Lee and Eva Holmes Hill in Newtown, Virginia. She attended the King and Queen Training School. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She joined the First Mt. Olive Baptist Church under the pastorate of Reverend Robert N. Lawson. She enjoyed participating in Sunday school and other church activities.

As time passed Martha worked in Richmond, VA., Front Royal, VA. and finally moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Department of Health and Human Services. During her employment there she quickly proved herself as a diligent and intelligent employee. This was evident when she went to night school and received her diploma graduating with honors and a scholarship to, what was then, Federal City College. When she retired from HHS in 1984 she had moved into a supervisory position.

Martha loved her flowers! One could not walk by her home and not notice the beautiful array of flower pots. Her favorites were Dragon Wing Begonias and Knockout Roses. Anyone who knew her looked forward to her "tender, melt in your mouth greens" and mouth watering candied yams.

At Thanksgiving time she would spread the love of God through preparing for the Roscoe C. Cartwright Lodge #129's annual senior citizens dinner. For more than 15 years she prepared many pans of candied yams for the dinner. The lodge made Martha an Honorary Mason (that's huge). Also, everyone who knew her learned of her enjoyable times spent in Atlantic City, N.J. She looked forward to the bus trips sponsored by the Blues Brothers and always talked about the fun she had on the bus.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar; mother, Eva Hill her father and stepmother, Campbell and Mollie Hill; her siblings, Elizabeth Harvey, Ellen, Issac, Polly, Catherine, John Lee, Thomas Hill and Darcus Hackley.

She leaves to cherish wonderful memories: one dearly devoted daughter and son-in-law Patricia (Leon) Cheeks-Beard, two wonderful sons Paul Cheeks and Anthony (Jeanette) Cheeks; one grandchild Topeka; two brothers, James Hill of Washington, D.C. and Benjamin Hill of Pleasantville, N.J.; one step-sister, Carrie Jones of Philadelphia, PA.; two sisters-in-law, Mary Hill Hall of Walkerton, VA. and Eva Hill of Washington, D.C.; and devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends. Her beloved grandson Charles Ealey III preceded her in death.

We thank Jehovah for the virtuous woman who was a gift.