LEOLA EVELINA GLISSON MARTIN

Graveside services for Leola Evelina Glisson Martin will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Hillside Memorial Park, Sumter, with the Rev. John Dicks officiating.

The public may view from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 S. Main St., Sumter.

Mrs. Martin transitioned on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at her residence in Sumter.

Born in Stateburg, she was one of 11 children born to the late Rev. Jacob Glisson (son of Jacob Glisson Sr. and Bina Owens of Stateburg and Privateer) and Lela Samuel Glisson (daughter of the late Frederick Samuel and Lela Jones of Eastover and Stateburg). She was educated at F.J. Delaine Elementary School in Wedgefield, attended Morris College High School and was a graduate of Morris College in Sumter. Mrs. Martin was a lifelong educator in the Lee County School District and Sumter County Public School District 2. She taught at Mayewood Middle School, Ebenezer Elementary, Lower Lee Elementary and Shaw Heights Elementary Schools for more than 32 years and continued to serve as a substitute teacher after her retirement.

As a youth, she was a member of Wesley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. She joined the congregation of Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church in the 1960s, after her marriage to Frank C. Martin Sr. The congregation later became Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where she was active in several church organizations including president of the United Methodist Women, vice president of the Women's Society of Christian Service, secretary of the Local Church Activities Committee, chairperson of the Christian Personhood Committee, chairperson of the nominating committee, chairperson of the membership committee and district treasurer of the Women's Society of Christian Service for the Sumter District. During her tenure as chairperson of the membership committee, she recruited and organized a circle of 11 young women to continue the legacy of historic Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Those young women became members of the Methodist Women's organization and currently continue to work in that capacity.

Mrs. Martin's involvement in other organizations included serving as chairperson of the church society, secretary and member of the Emmanuel UMC Senior Choir, member of the council on ministries, member of the church administrative board, member of the church finance committee and member of the status and roles of women committee. In addition to the activities listed above, she also served as a teacher in the Sunday school, the summer Bible school program, and the Emmanuel After-School program, well into the new millennium.

She served in the community as a longstanding member of the Sumter Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a dedicated member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and the National Education Association (NEA).

In addition to her parents and husband, Frank C. Martin Sr. of Sumter, she was preceded in death by one sister, Jeannetter Crowell; and nine brothers, Abraham, Luther, Jessie, Jacob Jr., James, Joseph, Frank, Clifton and Thomas.

She is survived by her three loving children, Theresa (Tede) Martin-Johnson, Dr. Frank C. Martin II and Anita Cautia Martin; two grandsons, Michael Edgar Johnson and Zachary Miles Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins who mourn her passing.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emmanuel United Methodist Church or Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship Fund.

The service will be streamed live on Facebook: Palmer Memorial Chapel, Inc.

Condolences may be made on her tribute page found at www.PalmerMemorialChapel.com.

Professional services rendered by Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc.