By Vivian Shipe
KNOXVILLE, TN — Roberta Martin is a solid fixture in the Black community of Knoxville. Her years as a Lady comfort volunteer with Jarnigan’s Mortuary has connected her to thousands of families in their moments of grief, and her community service was recognized by the city of Knoxville years ago with a proclamation naming a day in August in her honor.
Montrose Streeter, Master of Ceremonies for the event spoke of her life in a brilliantly researched speech, reminding the guest that Martin, born July 13, 1934, the Class President of the mighty Austin Panther class of 1952, has seen much in her nine decades. From polio shots to COVID boosters, she has lived a lot in her lifetime. Part of the “silent generation” she has lived through 12 wars including WW2 and the Great Depression. When she was born, Franklin Roosevelt was president of the United States and she has lived to see the first Black president Barack Obama. Streeter also reminded everyone Roberta Martin has lived through horse and buggy days to automobiles, party lines, land lines, cellphones, computers to texting, segregation, women’s rights, and so much more than boomers, millennials, and Gen Z combined. Martin retired from nursing after careers with the Knox County Health Department and Knox County Schools. Her service to others never stopped.
On July 14, her 90th birthday, the community held a reception in her honor. For two hours, people who know and love her stopped by for a few minutes to eat some cake bring gifts, cards, and share memories of how unique she is, and how she had impacted their lives. One story shared was by Pastor Sanford Miller who recounted the time she checked herself out the hospital when her nephew was being funeralized in order to be there to serve her family.
A great lover of her people, Martin has served as the class mother of the Austin -East Class of 1973 for over 50 years. During those years she has supported the activities of the class both collectively and individually, showing up wherever needed in their life and in their passing as she has been there to comfort the families and her class children in times of transitions.Knoxville celebrates Roberta Martin’s 90th birthday
