Martha Pearl Johnson

Born Martha Pearl Whaley in Lone Star, South Carolina, on December 3, 1939, was the 5th child of the late Rose and Earl Whaley.  Martha went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Martha and her family moved to Philadelphia when she was very young and continued her education in the Philadelphia Public School System.  Martha began working at Girard College in the laundry department. Her bubbly and funny personality garnered her a whole host of friends for years to come. Although an injury in 1981 caused her to stop working, those friendships continued through the years. She married Sandy V. Johnson, who was the love of her life, in 1986.

Martha, “Aunt-Sister”, was known to throw down in the kitchen. Her most favorite dish to cook was turkey wings, both baked and fried, her chopped BBQ with a side order of Banana layer cake; just a few of her staples.

Any event at her house was never complete without a game of Pitty Pat. Those memories she held close to her heart. Besides family gatherings she loved to go to the casinos with her husband or any family member who came to visit her. They would take the Greyhound to A.C. and have themselves a good time. If her husband won, best believe, she got herself a hand greased. She was with her husband until his death in 2008 surrounded by love to get her through the tough times.

Martha rededicated her life to Christ became a member of From the Heart Ministries. She loved to listen to the scriptures on her electronic Bible, knowing it bought her solace.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and Earl Sr.; her late husband, Sandy V. Johnson; her siblings, Bennett “Peggy”, Sonny and Earl Jr. and children, Michael, Robert, and Tony, (her nephew-son).

She leaves to cherish her memory: three children, Deborah, Karl, and Pamela; 11 grandchildren; great grandchildren; brother, Joe Whaley Sr.; two Godchildren, Sabrina and Keisha; er two favorite uncles, Bill and Calvin; favorite niece, Tayna; her daughter- in-law, Wanda, whom she adored and loved spending time with, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; her best friend, Ms. Georgia; friends, and church family.

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