Martha L. Garland

Martha L. Garland, daughter of the late Theodore and Jessie Lyle was born September 25, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey. She departed this life peacefully at home on May 11, 2020 in Delaware.

Martha was educated in the Newark, New Jersey school system and later progressed to receive a Bachelor and Masters degree of Arts. She was a member of the Church of God and Saints of Christ where she loved the music, was devoted to her biblical studies and attended annual Passover each year in Virginia whenever possible. As a young Martha she worked as a key punch operator, worked for airlines, and later found final employment with the State of New York as the Assistant Deputy Director for the Division of Human Rights where she retired in the late 90's. Before working for the state of New York she took residency in Brooklyn, New York where she purchased a brownstone that was in poor condition, but she had a vision. While working in New York she resided in that Brooklyn home while under construction in multi phases until she completed her vision in 2014.

Martha loved to travel and she did just that, traveling abroad many times, taking numerous cruises and traveling to bath in the mineral springs whenever she could. In 2006 Martha began hosting family game night at her home in Brooklyn every January. She always wanted take part in having wholesome fun. Martha had a very kind soul, but was always firm in her convictions. She decided she wanted to move to a more relaxed atmosphere and relocated to Delaware in 2016 with family. Martha had begun to experience the symptoms of aging and was later diagnosed with an early form of dementia. She lived on her own taking pride in gardening until the symptoms of the disease would no longer allow her to do so. She was constantly surrounded by family, friends, private caregivers, and a host of other staff that attended to her needs.

Martha was preceded in death by both parents, two brothers Robert Lyle, and Henry Lyle, and her sister Mary Holmes. She leaves one brother George Russell Lyle of Arizona, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

It was Martha's wish to be cremated and be buried along side her mother. She will be deeply missed by those who loved her. A special acknowledgement to Caesar "Kofi" Brown who was a part of her life until the end and who affectionately called her MaMartha.