MARTHA JANE HACKETT

HACKETT, Martha Jane (Marty) Died peacefully at home on March 1, surrounded by her loving family and friends from her beloved church, Old Cambridge Baptist. Born on Good Friday, April 23, 1943 in Littleton, New Hampshire, to the Reverend Marion Shaw Hackett and the Reverend Doctor William Hackett, she is survived by her beloved brother and sister-in-law William and Marianne Hackett of Salzburg, Austria. Martha Jane Hackett bravely bore a three-year struggle with cancer, determined to complete her work with South Cove Health Center and her church. With characteristic determination, she attended services on Sunday, February 26, speaking in a strong voice as her beloved community dedicated a dogwood tree to be planted beside the church in her honor. She leaves many loving friends and extended family, all deeply enriched by her love for them. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, March 10, at 11 a.m. at Old Cambridge Baptist, 1151 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard Square, with a reception following in the parish hall. Martha Jane is the daughter and granddaughter of American Baptist missionaries to Burma and lived with her family there from age 3-13 when she returned to the US to complete her schooling. She retained her ability to communicate in the Burmese language throughout her life just as she continued her family's commitment of love and support to Christians in Burma. "Ma Ma Martha Jane" made biannual visits to her brothers and sisters in Burma. She has established The Hackett Mission Legacy to provide continued spiritual and financial support for the Gyi Daw, Daw Nge Orphanage & Old People's Home, The Shan States Seminary in Taunggyi, and the Pa-o Christian churches and home mission. She began her nursing studies at Newton Wellesley School of Nursing and continued in her profession to become a nurse midwife. She proudly reported that she had delivered a thousand babies. She spent 3 years immersed in this work in Hong Kong where she would learn Cantonese and subsequently helped to start and build the women's health department at South Cove Community Health Center in Boston's Chinese American community over 30 years ago. Marty was one of the first certified nurse-midwives in the Commonwealth to receive prescription-writing privileges and was recognized for her individual contribution for enhancing maternal and child health by The National Perinatal Association. The Massachusetts affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives recently honored her not only with their Midwifery Achievement Award but renamed it the Marty Hackett CNM Heart of Midwifery Award. Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) awarded her their Health Services Award for her extraordinary contributions to the field of health services, delivering compassionate, culturally relevant care to women and families of the greater Boston area for over 30 years. Martha Jane was a devoted member of Old Cambridge Baptist Church in Cambridge and faithfully served that community for 45 years in many ways, as a deacon, vice moderator, leader of the healing group and pastoral care. She delighted singing in the choir. She was an active leader in the Stillman Association of The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. While Martha Jane was a very strong voice for justice and mercy at every level, she was a particularly strong defender of racial and gender justice and strongly advocated that congregations be open, welcoming and affirming of both gay and straight clergy and laity. She was a mentor and "midwife" for dozens of people who were called to pursue ordination to Christian ministry. Memorial gifts may be made to The Hackett Mission Legacy, Inc. On line guest book at www.brownandhickey.com