Gwen Martin 10.7.23 Service Program

1. Saturday, October 7, 2023
Memorial at 11 AM
Family hour 10 AM
Hartford Memorial Baptist Church
18700 James Couzens Highway
Detroit, MI 48235
Gwendolyn Ilene Martin
✺
January 23, 1943–July 27, 2023
Celebrationof Life
Celebrationof Life
Celebrationof Life

2. G
wendolyn Ilene Martin was born Gwendolyn Ilene Bryant on January 23rd, 1943, to Eunice Berline Williams
Bryant in Brooklyn, New York. Soon after her birth, her mother Eunice moved young Gwendolyn to Highland
Park, Michigan. Although Eunice and her stepfather Eddie Leo Bryant were in her life, she was primarily raised
by her adoptive mother, Bertha Holmes. Gwen, as she was known to family and friends, was educated in the Highland
Park school system. After graduating from Highland Park High School in 1961, Gwen attended Highland Park Com-
munity College for Business studies. She also discovered the first of her many creative outlets when she was hired for
her first job working at B. Siegel’s Department Store in their gift wrapping and window displays department.
While working and attending college, Gwen met Jack Martin through mutual friends. They eventually married in
1964. They welcomed their baby son, Randolph (Randy), that same year. Shortly after the birth of their baby daugh-
ter, Ingrid, in 1968, the couple moved their family to St. Paul, Minnesota. Once settled in St. Paul, Gwen obtained an
administrative position at Control Data Corporation where Jack was already employed. After living in Minnesota for
over a year, the young couple separated amicably, maintaining their devotion to co-parenting and educating their
children. Gwen officially moved back to Detroit in 1969, where she secured a position as a Medical Secretary for
Metropolitan Hospital. The following year she was promoted to Medical Transcriptionist in Metropolitan’s Quality
Assurance Department. Gwen continued working for Henry Ford Hospital after Metropolitan Hospital merged with
Henry Ford in the mid-1980s.
Gwen was known as a woman with amazing personal style and innate creativity. She was always impeccably
dressed and loved finding that unique clothing item, shoe or accessory that made her stand out from the crowd. Her
great eye for fashion crossed over to her discovered talent for interior decorating. Gwen took great pride in her dec-
orating projects, and her creative interests further expanded into gourmet cooking. Over the years, Gwen developed
into an excellent cook, experimenting with different flavors and self-taught techniques. This led Gwen to briefly try
her hand at catering professionally, but decided there was far more pleasure cooking for the people she loved. In the
1990s, Gwen discovered a talent for silk flower design, by creating holiday arrangements for family members. A few
years later she started her business Expressions N’ Silk, creating beautiful, realistic floral arrangements for home
accents, bouquets, weddings, and special events. Gwen also used her floral design skills when she became involved
with the charity “Festival of Trees”, an annual benefit for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation. For
several years, she would participate in their annual Christmas tree design competition, helping to raise funds for the
charity. She kept her business going for several years while still working for Henry Ford Hospital and while studying
to receive her Medical Transcriptionist Certification.
In 2001, Gwen officially retired from Henry Ford Hospital and moved to Novi near Walled Lake. She spent the
first few years of her retirement traveling to visit family, redecorating her new condo, taking friends and family out
on her pontoon boat, and attending Faith Tabernacle Church from time to time. It wasn’t until 2005 that Gwen was
forced to slow down due to health issues, yet she continued to find ways to stay active and involved. From 2006 to
the mid-2010s, became an active member of her condo’s Board Association as the community newsletter editor and
planner of holiday events. She joined Henry Ford Volunteer Services, using her decorating skills to create festive dis-
plays throughout the wings of the hospital. She served as a volunteer in her district to help register voters and assist
at voting booths. She also started attending church regularly, at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.
Gwen will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, humorous storytelling, and spontaneity, and most
importantly, for her tremendous amount of love she had for her children, Randy and Ingrid. She was strict in many
ways as most parents from that era were, but she always encouraged and fostered their creativity. Gwen could be
as private and quiet as she was fun and outgoing, but she always maintained her love for life and love for her entire
family throughout her life.
Gwen departed this life Thursday, July 27, 2023. She was preceded in death by 6 of her 8 siblings. Pauline Allen,
Clifford Bryant, Thelma Miles, Florence Moorman, Richard Allen Bryant, and Saundra Lee Jenkins. She is survived by
her children Randy and Ingrid, daughter-in-law Dr. Heidi Martin, her older sister Hortense Carter (Thomas Carter),
her younger sister Yvonne McKay (Grady McKay) and a host beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
GWENDOLYN ILENE MARTIN
January 23, 1943 - July 27, 2023
Celebrating80Yearsof Life
Celebrating80Yearsof Life

3. Family Visitation Hour
Processional
Visitation
Remarks...............................................................................................Timothy Bryant
Minkah McKay
Acknowledgements.............................................................................Michelle Blakely
Solo.............................................................“The Lord is my Light”, Mr. James Moore
Order of Worship
Organ Prelude................................................................................Dr. Stanley Waldon
Call to Worship...........................................................................Rev. Curtis Kilpatrick
Hymn..................................................#145, “Just As I Am”, Led by Mr. James Moore
Scripture.....................................................................................................23rd Psalm
Prayer..........................................................................................Rev Curtis Kilpatrick
Obituary.......................................................................................In Silent Meditation
Solo....................................................“ If You Could See Me Now”, Mr. James Moore
Eulogy & Prayer of Thanksgiving.............................................Rev. Charles C. Adams
Committal
Recessional....................................“When We All Get To Heaven”, Mr. James Moore
Organ Postlude..............................................................................Dr. Stanley Waldon
Repast...................................................................Hartford Memorial Baptist Church
Catered by Chef Andre Brown
ORDER OF SERVICE

7. Randy
For my beautiful mom: The one who encouraged my model car hobby, even when my building skills were
awful; the one who took me to music lessons and to play bass with my cousins so that I could hone my craft; the
one who escorted me to my first professional gig in a bar at age 14; the one who inspired my style and indulged
my adolescent transformation from dressing like a little kid into the little “GQ” teenager; the one who taught
me how to cook; the one who emphasized our education and overall, being the best that I could be……
I don’t think I’ll stop crying because I miss you so much.
I love you Mom.
Message to Mom
Ingrid
Dear Mommy: Thank you for loving every piece of bad art I made in class. Thank you for making our Christmas trees
so special that it looked like magic when we came downstairs in the morning. Thank you for getting me my first real job
when I turned 14. Thank you taking the first earrings I ever made to work with you to sell them for me. Thank you for
our car duets when our favorite songs would come on. Thank you for tying a mattress to your little Toyota and bringing
to my first college apartment so I didn’t have to sleep on the floor. Thank you for all of your cards of support whenever
I felt lost. Thank you for showing me how to laugh at things you have no control over. Thank you for always giving me
what I needed, instead of what I wanted. I’m so blessed that God chose you to be my mother. I love you
and I miss you so much, but I know I will see you again.
Talk to you later!

8. FLOWER BEARERS
Friends & Family
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO
Swanson Funeral Home-North West
14751 West McNicholas Road
Detroit, MI 48235
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Martin family would like to express their appreciation and deep
gratitude for all of the heartfelt expressions of love and sympathy in our time
of grief, through your prayers, cards, flowers, and calls.
AspecialthankyoutoReverendDr.KevinTaylor,HarfordMemorialBaptist
Churchandalloftheirassistantsfortheirsupportduringthisdifficulttime.
We will be forever grateful.