Marchale Martin

Marchale Corless Graves Martin returned unexpectantly to her heavenly home on March 1, 2019. She was born to Mildred Graves and the late John A. Graves, in Lexington KY on May 18, 1966. She joined Maddoxtown Baptist Church at an early age and was immersed in the Christian community that would give her lifelong support and a solid gospel foundation. She would later become a member of Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church of Dayton Ohio where she served as Chairperson of the Hope Women's Ministry, Co-chairperson of the Restoration 2021 Capital Campaign, and served on various church committees. She graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Economics. While at WKU, Marchale was initiated into the Eta Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated in the Fall of 1986 where she served diligently and even saw the initiation of her younger sister into the sorority.

Marchale was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her best friend, Brian O'Neil Martin, on July 7, 1990 in Lexington, KY. To this union, they welcomed two sons, Brian James and John Mitchell, whom they've raised with patience, discipline and humility. Marchale helped to teach them to read, write and solve complex equations, and often took them on long family trips to see the natural beauty of God's work throughout the US. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and trained them in the beauty of the gospels.

Marchale was a humanitarian at heart. She was kind and soft-spoken, and always had time to answer a question or solve a problem, no matter how small. She is dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her creator. Marchale was a beautiful, generous, and loving angel who is mourned by hundreds of family and friends.

Marchale is survived by her husband Brian O'Neil Martin; her sons Brian James and John Mitchell Martin; her mother Mildred Graves; her father-in-law Howitt Martin; sister-in-law Dana M. McGhee (Dedric); sisters Clarice Coulter, Valerie Overstreet, Teresa Taylor, Daphine Hodge, and Victoria Owens (Ricky); special sister Renetta Sloan; brothers Kevin Turner (Mollie), Silvester Turner (Georgia), Michael Graves (Jenyce), LaMontie Graves (Felissa), and Randall Graves; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, aunts and special friends. She is preceded in death by her father John Graves; her sister, Marquieta Key; her mother-in-law Velma Martin; and brother-in-law Rodney Martin.

Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 am on Friday, March 8, 2019 at Wayman A.M.E. Church, 3317 Hoover Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45402, where a Sorority Service will begin at 10:30 am, followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 am. Reverend Gerald Cooper officiating. Marchale will be buried in the Martin family plot, The Reynolds Cemetery, at their farm in Greenville Kentucky.

The family gratefully declines flowers but instead asks for donations to the Restoration 2021 capital campaign for Wayman A.M.E. This project was where Marchale and Brian's heart and hard work was at the time of her death. Donations can be made online at Donations to Wayman or in person at the church.

Arrangements entrusted to Newcomer North Chapel, 4104 Needmore Road. To share a memory of Marchale or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.