Martha James

Surrounded by her loving family, Martha Ruby James of Greenburgh, New York, passed away peacefully at The Martine Center in White Plains, NY on June 28, 2025. She was 97 years old. Born in Greenburgh, NY on December 28, 1927, to Julia (Boss) and George James, she was the youngest of eight siblings. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her son, G. Larry James, her nephew, Clifford, whom she was raised with, her brother, George, and her 6 sisters, Virginia, Harriett, Julia, Susan, Barbara, and Gertrude.

From her youth, Martha attended schools in Greenburgh, excluding her senior year of high school, graduating from White Plains High School in 1947.  Martha pursued skills to become a barber, or as she liked to be called, a "tonsorial artist" and became one of the first licensed female barbers in the Westchester County area. She began her career at the People's Barber Shop and Ashe's Barber Shop and for 14 years, she specialized in children's haircuts.

In 1970 Martha started working with the newly formed Union Child Daycare Center. She was inspired to go back to school and in 1979, she graduated from Pace University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. Martha will be remembered for the wonderful influence she had on the many children who shared her classroom. After her retirement in 1993, she went on to join the teaching team at Love Christian Academy, an outgrowth of Redeeming Love Christian Center of Nanuet, NY. An inaugural member, she cherished the friendships and her time as a member and part time staffer at the Seniors Program at The Theodore D. Young Community Center. Martha was deeply committed to her community, volunteering with local organizations and offering a warm smile to friends, neighbors and passers-by alike.

Martha had a love of travel. One of her most memorable trips was to Mexico City in 1968 to see her son, Larry, compete in the XIX (19th) Olympiad. She treasured this experience as it was here that she not only made lifelong friendships but also lived some of her proudest moments watching her son win the gold medal in the 4 x 400m relay and silver medal in the 400m.  Ever the storyteller, she loved sharing stories about her travels; her trips to Kenya, Tanzania, Israel, and Haiti, to name a few were sources of shared joy, laughter and wisdom. Most of all, however, she loved spreading the good news about the Lord she knew so intimately.

Martha was a pillar of strength, compassion, and wisdom. For her, her greatest achievement was becoming Born Again through her personal acceptance and relationship with her beloved, Jesus Christ. She loved sharing her abiding love of God with everyone she met. During her life she was member of Redeeming Love Christian Center and Union Baptist Church, where she was an active member well into her 90’s.

Martha was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Among her interests were writing/poetry, calligraphy, drama, drawing, sign language, travel and storytelling. She is remembered for her unshakeable kindness, her graciousness of spirit and her powerful presence. Anyone blessed to have spent time with her would say that she could light up a room with her smile, her stories and her love of neighbor and love of the Lord. She will be deeply missed. Her legacy will surely remain as a guiding light to all who knew her and will live on in the countless lives she touched and in the family she cherished.

She is survived by her daughter Julia A. James of White Plains, NY, 5 grandchildren A. Christopher (Henriette), Tamaiya, Larry Bonn (Juliette), Denise, and Derrick, 13 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, all who will hold dear memories of her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Girls Destined for Greatness Program at TDYCC or Meals on Wheels.

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ATTENTION: During the continuing COVID & various health concerns, as we phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Wake/Visitation will be held on Thursday July 10th 2025, from 10:00AM-11:00AM at Union Baptist Church, followed by Funeral Service at 11:00AM. So you may come to the Church to try to attend, & feel free to wear masks. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from too much touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Martha James & family entrusted her care & the care of their loved one to us, and that she & they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Family of Martha James during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

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Please feel free to come to the church wearing a mask, & feel free to wear a mask inside the church &/or at cemetery, and social distance as much as possible. If you know you have a coronavirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19/Measles; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come to any facility. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of the church, and directions of the funeral home staff and/or church & cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the church and/or funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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In lieu of flowers & as a lasting tribute, the family kindly suggests a contribution be made in her name/memory/honor to: Meals on Wheels (may be done simply through the donation tab/link here in website at the bottom of this page, or on your own), and/or to: Girls Destined for Greatness Program at TDYCC and/or Wildlife in Crisis Care & Conservation Center online at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/wildlifeincrisis . You may also plant a tree in her name/memory/honor, as another form of condolence. If sending flowers despite the family's request, they may be delivered either on Wednesday July 9th, 2025 by/before 6:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home, or on Thursday July 10th by/before 9:45AM to Union Baptist Church. The Family Thanks You!