Martharine West

Martharine Kamrara Hope West

March 26th, 1934-September 7th,2025

Martharine Kamrara Hope West, affectionately known as Martha to her loved ones and friends, was a beacon of light and a pillar of strength to all who knew her. Born on March 26, 1934, in Boston, MA, Martha was a woman of profound faith and unwavering conviction. It is with both profound sorrow and a celebration of her well-lived life that we announce her peaceful passing on September 7, 2025, in St. Petersburg, FL, due to congestive heart failure.
Martha's formative years in New York laid a strong educational foundation that blossomed into a life marked by continuous learning and service. She obtained a Certificate in Nursing from Oakwood College, a testament to her nurturing spirit and desire to care for others. Her quest for knowledge did not stop there, as she later earned an Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration with a Minor in Music from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Graduate Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. These academic achievements were the bedrock upon which she built a life of varied and meaningful vocations.
Her career began in the harmonious company of her mother, Ruth, and her sisters, as they sang and played music that echoed their family's love and unity. Although Martha's nursing career was brief, it paved the way for her true calling in the world of business and, ultimately, her devoted service in the clergy. Her life's work was a testament to her intelligence and her courageous spirit, which was deeply rooted in her Christian faith.
Martha's love for music was as boundless as her faith. She was a maestro of the soul, directing choirs and playing the piano for congregations large and small, from humble storefronts to magnificent megachurches. Her music was a bridge to the divine, and she led her choirs with the same conviction with which she lived her life.
A woman of formidable intellect and a heart filled with the love of Christ, Martha was an original advocate for women's rights, championing equality long before it became a widespread movement. Her voice was one of reason and passion, inspiring others to stand firm in their beliefs with her favorite maxim, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
Martha's lineage is a testament to her enduring legacy, with her parents, Ruth E. Kamrara and Samuel O. Kamrara, having preceded her in passing. Her blended family with Leon A. Thompson Sr. included siblings the late Leon A. Thompson Jr. Louise C. & Frank Blair, the late Christine A. & Randell Williams, the late Mary E. Sheppard Bennett Booker & surviving husband John Booker, the late Jonathan A. Thompson & surviving wife Paula Thompson, Ruth C. Thompson, Marcita Thompson-Mead & William Mead, and Ida C. Kamrara. Martha's own children-Wayne R. Hope, Marla C. Hope Weathersby, Sharon L. Hope McMillan Jordan, and Tearrain L.J. Hope Stewart-reflect her nurturing and loving essence. Her grandchildren, including Lakia Hope May, Corrine M. McMillan Reed, and Tekelia Hope, as well as numerous great and great-great-grandchildren, will carry forward her indomitable spirit.
Martha West was a woman of courage, intelligence, and unwavering faith. Her life was a sermon of action, an anthem of love, and a testament to the power of a faith-filled life. She has left an indelible imprint on the hearts of those she touched, and her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us. Martha, a true servant of God, now sings with the angels, her voice forever resonating in the hallowed halls of eternity.

Funeral Date: September 19th, 2025 @ Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home, 455 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021 (781-828-7218) Please arrive promptly at 11am. Service will begin at 11:30am. Internment will follow at Knollwood Memorial Park, 321 High Street, Canton, MA 02021 (781-828-7218)

The Repass will begin at 3pm, Hyde Park SDA Church, 6 Webster Street, Hyde Park, MA (617-361-6581)