Deaconess Martha C. Goldman passed on to Glory March 1, 2005.  She was born June 12, 1912 in Philadelphia to Martha Knight Jeffress and James Jeffress.  Her father was the elder of many siblings who relocated from Virginia and her mother was the youngest of four siblings who had relocated from Tarboro, North Carolina.  She had only one sibling, elder sister Elizabeth (Betty).  Martha C. attended school in Philadelphia; graduating from William Penn High School. 
In 1930 she married the now late Philip H. Goldman, Sr. of Philadelphia.  They immediately relocated to New York City and set up residence in Brooklyn.  Some years later, they had two children, Philip H. Jr. and Marcia.  Philip, Sr. had a long career as a unionized window cleaner and Martha went into civil service.  Her work experience ended with more than twenty-five years at SUNY Downstate Medical College when she retired at the mandatory age of 70.  Family was always an anchor for Martha C. and she always praised her parents for their unending love and support.  Therefore, she took her parental role very seriously.  Following her parents’ example of active church life at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Martha decided on Concord Baptist Church in 1942 as her church home to support her and her family’s development and growth.  She became active with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts parent groups and served spiritedly on the Usher Board.  Our beloved was extensively involved with and provided leadership in the Nan G. Robeson Club and the Sisterhood.  She attended and taught  Sunday School  and received great inspiration from the experiences.  Most significant in her Concord annals was her consecration as a deaconess early in Rev. Gardner Taylor’s pastorate and under the chairmanship of Beulah Palmer.  Later, Martha C. served as vice chair with Anna Bell’s chairmanship.  Deaconess Goldman enjoyed the work of the Christian Education Committee because of its focus on youth.  She was an inveterate attendee of the Progressive Baptist Convention and a convener of the Women’s Day of Prayer, an annual city-wide event held at Concord Church.  After retirement and until she could no longer independently get to and fro, she fulfilled a special commitment to be present to console the bereaved at services scheduled at the church.  Outside of the church’s programs, our Deaconess was active in the Key Women of America, a community volunteer service organization.  She served in many capacities for a number of years and greatly enjoyed the camaraderie. 

 Deaconess Martha C. Goldman has given to her family, church and community.  Her warm cheerful face and ready message of encouragement made for a very special Christian soldier who will be greatly missed.  She is survived by her son, Philip and daughter, Marcia (there  is many a weary ear that has heard about “my son and daughter”), a sister-in-law, Thelma Goldman Steele, as well as many relatives still residing in Philadelphia.  She collected other devoted friends from work settings and church who consider themselves her daughters and sons.  She developed some special friendships that grew into sisterships.  Deaconess Martha C. Goldman was dearly loved and will be long remembered.