Obituary
Surrounded by her children, Dorothy Selena Martin died on August 22, 2016 in Orlando, FL at the age of 69. She is survived by her youngest sister Lorraine, her daughters, Valerie, Pamela, Elizabeth, Lorraine Alisa (Lee), her son Terrance, her 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Dorothy was born on April 11, 1947 in Kyle, West Virginia, to Jesse James Martin and Elizabeth Mageline Pannell Martin. She was born to a large, loving family with three brothers and three sisters. She graduated from Elkhorn High, and went on to get her degree in Social Work and Gerontology. She worked as a registered nurse in New Jersey as well as Assistant Director to the Battered Women Shelter with the YWCA.
Dorothy was a driven professional with an entrepreneurial spirit. She started “Outstanding Cleaning Services” in Chesapeake, VA as well as several other small businesses throughout her career. She was dedicated to her volunteer work and spent years working with the Hospice of Virginia Beach and as a social worker with the Virginia Beach Department of Social Services. In 2000, she moved to Orlando, FL where she lived with her daughter Pamela until her final days.
When diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, she remained the strong decisive individual with a will to fight her illness and live her life uninterrupted. She remained active in her community, and joined the West Orange Senior Center and the Young At Heart Adult Senior Group of Grace Bible Church, which allowed her to continue her passions of travel and befriending people from all walks of life.
She was the epitome of strength, of resilience, and of independence, all of which she passed on to her children and grandchildren.
Dorothy requested to be cremated, with her ashes received by her loved ones. A memorial will be held Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 3pm at Grace Bible Church of Central Florida (801 Dorscher Road Orlando FL 32818). In lieu of flowers, she asked that donations be made in her memory to the Grace Bible Church Missions, Benevolence Fund or Cornerstone Hospice.
The family would like to thank her adopted sons and daughters, Pastor Gene Pritchard, her church family, her doctors and nurses, West Orange Senior Center and everyone else whom heart’s she touched.
Dorothy Selena Martin, A phenomenal woman who lived with passion and loved the Lord Jesus Christ.
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I love you and you will be greatly missed. You were always a loving person. You have always made me feel like one of your girls when i was around. Thank you for being a great example of how a strong loving mother should be.
Love Renee'