Martha Alice Fletcher

Martha Fletcher Obituary
If I can help somebody as I travel along
If I can help somebody with a word or a song
If I can help somebody, from doing wrong
Then my living will not be in vain
Martha Alice Burr Fletcher was born on August 8, 1924. Martha Alice lived a purpose-filled life that was filled with God, hard work and incredible, "unthinkable" accomplishments for a black woman of her generation. She peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Mother's Day, May 12, 2024, surrounded by her loving family and holding the hand of her beloved daughter, Bonnie.
Martha Alice was the youngest child and only daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth Warren Burr. Her biological mother, Elizabeth, passed away when Alice was an infant. Margaret (Maggie) Nichols and her father Calvin Burr, were first cousins. Maggie said, "bring me the baby." Alford and Margaret adopted Alice into their family. Martha Alice never left her Burr Family bloodline. Maggie never allowed Martha Alice to drop her Burr surname.
She attended Cincinnati Public Schools and graduated in the Class of 1938 from Garfield Elementary School. She continued her education and graduated from Hughes High School in 1942–a major accomplishment for a young black woman during that time. She arrived at her high school graduation by limousine, driven by the late Jenifer Renfro, former owner of Renfro Funeral Services. He offered the limousine service to celebrate her accomplishment.
On November 19, 1949, Martha Alice Burr married Charles H. Fletcher. Their union was blessed with three children: Bonnie, Charles Jr. and Lester. She also had five godchildren: Cheryl Henson (Earl), Carla Sebron, Frank Dwight Wilborn, Lori Wilborn (deceased) and Eric Wilborn. She was a mother not only to her three biological children but to all children she met throughout her life. She opened her home to many family members and others who experienced hard times. The door was always open and there was always a bed. If she heard that someone was homeless and they did not approach her for help, Martha Alice would approach them with her housing offer. In the late 1950s, a generation later, Martha Alice re-connected with Garfield Elementary School by becoming its first African American President of Garfield's PTA. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles, in 1969. The challenges of being a young widow did not deter her from embracing life and meeting her personal goals.
Church was the centerstone of Martha Alice's life. She was baptized at the age of 10 by Pastor D. Shelton. She attended First Baptist for the rest of her life, teaching Sunday School for 63 years and serving as a life-long missionary and a matriarch of First Baptist Church of Cumminsville. Martha Alice was the longest tenured member of the church's 154- year-old church history. As a life-long missionary, she took on the duty of picking up five other missionaries every Monday to take to the homes of sick and shut in members to teach Sunday School lessons. She also taught a Wednesday Bible Study at the Victoria Retirement Center in Norwood. Another of her favorite Missionary activities was at Christmas time when the Missionaries delivered poinsettia plants to 50 elderly church members. Martha Alica also served as the co-founder of The First Baptist Church's Book Club, (now is in its third decade of existence) a charter member and director for the church's Pastoral Choir, as well as the pianist for the Sunday School. First Baptist members all lovingly called her," Aunt Alice."
Martha Alice initiated the annual Black History Program at the church that includes, "A Taste of Soul Food" dinner. As a historian, she was a member of the Thomas Jefferson Monticello Society and has been interviewed about the Church's founder, Rev. Peter Fossett, Thomas Jefferson's son. In the article, she recalls the days her mother talked about Rev. Fossett. Her entire live interview about Rev. Peter Fossett and the Church founders can be viewed and heard on Google. She is featured in the October 13, 1935 Homecoming church picture that is proudly displayed at The National Museum of African American History and Culture, part of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. She was also recognized and honored by the Cumminsville Community Council in 2015 as one of the current and past Cumminsville residents who were over 90 years old.
Martha Alice's work career is as impressive as her dedication to her First Baptist church. After graduation, she held many government jobs, another amazing accomplishment for a black woman of her time. Her longest tenure was with the Internal Revenue Service, where she was hired as a young widow and where she worked faithfully for 30 years. At the IRS, she was a Personnel Specialist supporting five states: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia.
Martha Alice was the first Employee Assistance Program leader for five states as well as the Employee Equal Opportunity Coordinator for five states. Martha Alice also worked in the Service Center, the District and the Region for IRS. Countless IRS African American Managers and employees owe their careers, positions and retirements to Martha Alice Fletcher. She was Matriarch of the Association for the Improvement of Minorities Retirement organization. She was a valiant advocate, sponsor and the mentor for African Americans and their employment rights. To this day, she continues to receive thanks and commendations from them. Her office was a safe refuse for them. She also motivated four generations of her family to become IRS employees. Upon her retirement from the IRS, Martha Alice was honored for her "outstanding service" with the IRS prestigious Albert Gallatin Award. The award is the highest career award given by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Retirement, however, did not mean that Martha Alice was going to slow down. At the age of 65, she enrolled at Xavier University and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. She considered earning her college degree as one of her life's greatest accomplishments. She drove herself to Xavier and walked on a cane to all of her classes. She had several classes with Xavier's basketball players who always went out of their way to help her. She would comment that her helpers all called her "Ms. Martha" and were all so tall.
Martha Alice was one of the organizers and leaders of the travel club, " Just Us," which traveled to 48 states and enjoyed cruises on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans during its 30- year existence. She also was one of the original organizers of the Annual Burr Family Reunion. Martha Alice was a dedicated member of the Optimistic Ten Ladies Civic Club for the 40 years of its existence. The Optimistic Ten were featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer on November 24, 1998, as a civic club with a benevolent commitment. Each year the Optimistic Ten provided Christmas joy to two families.
Martha has received Proclamations from President Barack Obama, Senator Sherrod Brown and Mayor John Cranley, as well as numerous others religious, political and benevolent entities. For her 99th birthday, she had a Card party. Everyone in her sphere of influence was asked to send her a card. The goal was for her to receive 99 cards. By the time her birthday arrived, she had received 245 cards!
She was an extraordinarily remarkable woman who was a 2018 Nefertiti Honoree because she exemplified the wisdom and beauty of the Ancient African Queen Nefertiti throughout her 99 years. She has consistently been a perpetual trailblazer for us all in the areas of community, education, professional arena and religion. She was able to manifest her numerous achievements as a result of her devout faith, unconditional love and her steadfast commitment to her life's mission, "If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living will not be in vain."
What a friend we have in Jesus and many of Martha Alice dearest friends certainly had Jesus in them and are still with us to carry on her legacy of peace, joy and love including: Mildred Williams, Gayle Erion, Emma Bradley, Margie Johnson, Luekiucius Brown, Dorothy Black, Dorothy Todd, Pamela Mackey and Roberta Howard. Sincere and heartfelt thanks to Patricia Smith and Karen Sutttles for their eight years of loving, dutiful and compassionate care for Martha both day and night.
Martha Alice Burr Fletcher is survived by her three children: Bonnie (Kirk), Charles (Ena), and Lester; six grandchildren; Dr. Martha Slaten (Dr. Whitney) of Rhinebeck, New York, Kim Fluker, Tamara Newland, Cincinnati, Ohio; Amy Fletcher (Megan Brown) Sacramento, California; Charles Fletcher and Brandon Morgan (Navada) Cincinnati, Ohio. Thirteen great-grandchildren (three deceased). And she had many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were a part of her staunchly faithful and well lived life.
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