Bobbie Martin (Lansing)

Born January 1, 1940, in Clarksdale, Mississippi

Died December 10, 2022, in Lansing, Michigan

22 Days Short of Her 83rd Birthday

Bobbie Louise Taylor was born on a cloudy day, the first child of Cornelius Taylor and Martha Randle just across Highway 61 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Bobbie and her sisters, Leola, Glory-Jean, and Virginia lived a full, close-knit family and busy life with their mother and Grandmother, Little Martha and Big Martha until at the age of 9 she moved to Chicago, Illinois when her mother and cousin were forced to flee Clarksdale to save their lives. After witnessing and testifying to a tragic incident where a white mob murdered a young Black boy, threats by the Klan and local mob forced the pair to leave their home in the night. Young Bobbie would live briefly with relatives in Chicago, eventually moving to Lansing Michigan where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Bobbie, like most of her matriarchal family, lived as a close-knit family unit and participated heavily in community and civil rights activities. After graduating from J.W. Sexton High School, she married Roy Lee Martin Sr, recent Army veteran and auto body worker in 1959. The couple settled in Lansing to be close to her family.

Bobbie believed strongly in family, Church, and Community and worked tirelessly to support all. A member of Christ’s Kingdom Builders Church, as well as a Mother of the Church, she participated in the Missionary work of the church working actively in support of the education of the children.

Among her many jobs over the years were License Practical Nurse, Bookkeeping Accountant for a pharmacy; she worked at the Black Family and Child Institute Aids Education and Awareness program, the children's tutorial Programs as well as providing administrative support. Bobbie also volunteered with the Shabazz Academy School in Lansing.

Rose Bobbie Martin was a third-generation member of The Order of Eastern Stars. For more than 40 years she rose through the ranks to become A Rose of the 7 Seals, a position equivalent to 33° Mason. Rose Martin worked diligently within the Order in support of their community service efforts and education of the youth.

An avid sports enthusiast, Bobbie, and her younger sister, Leola both participated in the Lansing Women's Softball League and local bowling leagues for numerous years. Bobbie was integrally involved with all her children, nieces, and nephews in their sporting activities, as well as supporting local and professional football programs through the years.

Bobbie's Civil Rights participation lasted for decades including participation in marches, arrests, beatings, all of which she managed with grace, dignity, and pride. She and her sister, Leola, her lifelong companion, continue the legacy of Civil Rights Support, Ethnic Education, and the sharing of these values with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Their Prison Outreach Programs were ground-breaking and continue to educate and assist young offenders.

After the death of her husband in 1999, Bobbie began the now famous Monday "Greedy" Games with her sisters, Leola and Virginia. After Virginia’s death, the sisters continued the tradition, until Bobbie’s passing. “Grandma Bobbie” was the center and the heartbeat of her family, and a shining light within her Community, Church, and the Fraternal Order to which she belonged.

She leaves to cherish her memory five children, Anthony (Perala) Hall, Sheilah Taylor-Martin, Patricia Martin, Antonitia Martin, and James Martin; as well many foster children from over the years; 15 grandchildren and more than twenty-eight great-grandchildren; sister, Leola Taylor; daughter-in-law, Ginger Martin; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bobbie was preceded in death by husband, Roy L. Martin, Sr.; son, Roy Jr.; father, Cornelius Taylor; mother, Martha Williams, nee Randle; sisters, Glory-Jean Taylor and Virginia Dancay-Bangura.