Memories of Mrs. Arthuretta "Mama Retta" Leona Holmes-Martin

In memory of

Mrs. Arthuretta "Mama Retta" Leona Holmes-Martin

Woodbridge, VA, USA

February 8, 1958 - July 3, 2021

Feb 8, 1958 - Jul 3, 2021

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Raymond Henderson

2011, Arlington, VA, USA

Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce

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Yolanda Bell

Edwina Johnson

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Raymond Henderson

Arthuretta was always a good speaker whether she addressing an audience or making a querying a speaker in... Read more Arthuretta was always a good speaker whether she addressing an audience or making a querying a speaker in a meeting. Arthuretta was always a good speaker whether she addressing... Read more

Raymond Henderson

2007, Burke, VA, USA

Album Photoshoot

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Yolanda Bell

Comments:

Raymond Henderson

This was the first time I photograph Arthuretta and she was amazing. This was for her upcoming Gospel album.... Read more This was the first time I photograph Arthuretta and she was amazing. This was for her upcoming Gospel album. I ask her to give... Read more This was the first time I photograph Arthuretta and... Read more

Raymond Henderson

Yolanda Bell

Raymond Henderson

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Kirk Johnson

….. My last time spent with Arthuretta was at a Woodbridge Toastmasters Club meeting where she served as Vice-President (PR)…
….. When I was chairing an Area Speech Contest in Vienna, VA, Arthuretta mesmerized the audience with a phenomenal vocal rendition of the National Anthem to open that event…
….. Our first meeting was at her first exposure to Toastmasters Int’l in the G.U.T.S. (Get Up To Speak) Club where she expressed her dream to become a Professional StoryTeller…
….. That dream became a reality…
….. Rest-In-Peace, Arthuretta!

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Winny Parks

Yolanda Bell

Maurice A. Louis Threatt

Raymond Henderson

Comments:

Maurice A. Louis Threatt

Wow, I can feel your love for my/our friend. Thank you for this memory! I just found out last night and... Read more Wow, I can feel your love for my/our friend. Thank you for this memory! I just found out last night and had wondered why I... Read more Wow, I can feel your love for my/our friend. Thank... Read more

Asenath Pitner

It hurts my heart that my little sister is dead. Even though we did not grow up together, we still stayed connected all those years. I still remember the first I saw her when she was just a baby. She was so cute! I loved her from that moment on. I was her big sister. I wanted to help and protect her.

Over the years she would ask my advice when making a major decision. Usually, she would ignore my advice and do what her wanted to do. Years later she told me that she wished that she had followed my advice in each situation. That meant a lot to me. It told me that she knew that I would never do anything to harm her. I only wanted to help and protect her. I now have a new angel watching over me. I miss and love her dearly.

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Raymond Henderson

Winny Parks

Terri Williams

Shared a heart

Tanya Ward Jordan

Dinah Britt

Shared a heart

Raymond Henderson

Comments:

Dinah Britt

Praying that your heart will be filled with the peace of God during this time. Holding you close in thoughts... Read more Praying that your heart will be filled with the peace of God during this time. Holding you close in thoughts and prayers. With... Read more Praying that your heart will be filled with the peace... Read more

Angel Windley

Shared a heart

Andrea Blackford

Jubilee Voices will miss Arthuretta's bold, warrior spirit. May she rest in power and sing with the angels.

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Yolanda Bell

Andrea Blackford

2017

Arthuretta was a member of the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices. Her powerful storytelling and melodious voice made her a valued and loved member of the group; her humor, laughter and love was felt by her fellow vocalists and friends, and her memory is a precious gift to us all.

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Yolanda Bell

Raymond Henderson

Winny Parks

Maurice A. Louis Threatt

Claire Cashwell

My condolences to Arthuretta's family. I first met Arthuretta when while serving as a Regional Representative for the Regional Council of Region XI, Blacks In Government. It was refreshing to see Arthuretta work very hard, as many others to protect the human rights of African Americans everywhere. Our common activities especially focused on fair treatment of our people who provided services for the protection and welfare of Federal, State, and Local Government employees. Like all other companies and Government, we also must fight discrimination. Arthuretta’s Family should feel very proud to have had a Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter, and Aunt as her to cherish forever. Claire Cashwell, President, Region XI Retired Members Chapter, Blacks In Government, Fort Washington, Maryland.

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Yolanda Bell

Maurice A. Louis Threatt

Comments:

Maurice A. Louis Threatt

Thanks for sharing this memory of our dear friend! She was my mentor when I first began working in the federal... Read more Thanks for sharing this memory of our dear friend! She was my mentor when I first began working in the federal marketplace as... Read more Thanks for sharing this memory of our dear friend! ... Read more

Tanya Ward Jordan

My heart is heavy. I woke up in the early morning hours to learn of the passing of my dear friend and fellow civil rights activist Arthuretta Holmes Martin. She was a brilliant, insightful, drum major for justice. Arthuretta, since retired from federal service, was a dedicated civil servant who sought equality for all. We go back years. We first met in the early '90s serving in Blacks In Government and the NAACP Federal Sector Taskforce. In more recent years, Arthuretta served as the Health and Wellness Chair for The Coalition For Change, Inc. (C4C). My dear friend inspired me to form the organization for she knew that federal workers, victimized by discrimination, needed a safe place to network and fellowship. Whenever I called upon her for insight, she gave wise counsel. Representing C4C, she accompanied me to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and to the late Rep. Elijah Cummings office. She presented on the Whistleblower Summit panel in Washington, DC. She purposefully lifted her eloquent voice and provided insight to address federal workplace inequity. Her support for our shared cause, over the years, aided in the passing of the No FEAR Act of 2002 and the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act. She was a brave whistleblower with a caring, frank and vivacious spirit. May her light continue to shine. Prayers of comfort I extend to the family.

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Yolanda Bell

Raymond Henderson

Terri Williams

Charlotte Blake Alston

Sharon Holley

I will miss this songbird that I first met at the Black Storyteller Retreat at the Bricks in North Carolina. We were roommates and connected with story, song and family stories.

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Raymond Henderson

Charlotte Blake Alston

Maurice A. Louis Threatt

Diane Jackson

Sincere Condolences and Positve Prayers to the Family and Friends.
Such a shocker. Ms. Arthuretta was such an accomplished person with so many gifts. She gave back to the Community with her activism and knowledge. I was so looking forward to hearing her and meeting her. .. even if virtually.

Ms. Arthurertta was to speak, share stories and experiences for Women's Equality Day next month for the Bright Knights Chapter of the Federally Employed Women (FEW).

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Dr. Zena Crenshaw-Logal

I so regret not having more time with you on earth, but rest in power my dear, dear sister. I’ll see you on the other side. No doubt you’ll be a great source of magic and light there as you were here ❤️🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽❤️

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Christina Bussie

Josiah Henson Museum & Park, Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, MD, USA

Arthuretta with the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices

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Dr. Matthew Fogg

I know that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal but this news is really tough. Retta was great friend and colleague in the trenches of social and economic justice. We were in Blacks In Government (www.BIGNET.org) for many years and worked on the passage of the fammed 21st Century Civil Rights Act legislation known as the; NoFEAR Act signed into law by President George Bush.
Our Advocacy for justice was relentless and we all paid a price for the freedoms of those coming after us. There are no words to describe her departure but only to say for Autheretta to be absent from this body is to be present with our Mighty GOD.

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Yolanda Bell

Terri Williams

Aliyah Khan

My deepest condolences to all in the family and friends circles of Retta. She was a passionate and active advocate for justice and equity and inspired everyone. Retta will be dearly missed by all her Sanders Siblings but always remain in our hearts 💐💚

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Roy Jones

2005, Gorée, Dakar, Senegal

Freedom

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Comments:

Makeda Martin

Hello Roy - Thank you so much for your kind words! My mom often spoke of your friendship and I know she genuinely... Read more Hello Roy - Thank you so much for your kind words! My mom often spoke of your friendship and I know she genuinely appreciated ... Read more Hello Roy - Thank you so much for your kind words! ... Read more

Roy Jones

2013, Robben Island, South Africa

Standing in front of Nelson Mandela's Cell

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Roy Jones

2005, Dakar Senegal

On the boat to Goree Island connecting with strangers

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Raymond Henderson

John Saunders

2007, Kampala, Uganda

CIMPAD Conference US Ambassador's Reception

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Peggy Valentine

Raymond Henderson

Winny Parks

John Saunders

2007, Primary School Southern Kenya

Peggy Valentine

Donald Bosset

Raymond Henderson

Gwendolyn Lewis

2018, Lake Ridge, VA, USA

Arthuretta wrote a book with other arthurs

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Raymond Henderson

Donald Bosset

Comments:

Gwendolyn Lewis

Arthuretta and I shared many memories. We were also on the NAACP Task Force for Civil Rights for about 5... Read more Arthuretta and I shared many memories. We were also on the NAACP Task Force for Civil Rights for about 5 years. We both retired... Read more Arthuretta and I shared many memories. We were also... Read more

Gwendolyn Lewis

2019, CCNA 10 Year Anniversary

Special Guest Superintendent Hutchings

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Donald Bosset

Comments:

Gwendolyn Lewis

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