January 5, 1939 was one of the Lord’s best days.  He blessed Annie Selina Givens-Spencer and Dennis Charles Martin with a beautiful baby girl.  They named her Anna Kathryne Martin.  She was so beautiful everyone thought she looked like a baby doll; hence the name BabyDoll.

Her mother made sure all of her children knew the Lord Jesus Christ and BabyDoll was baptized at her family church, Brown Chapel A.M.E., in Kenedy, Texas.  BabyDoll loved Kenedy and lived there her entire life.  Her pride and joy was her children.

She gave birth to four boys, Ruben Michael Martin (Mike), Charleston Foley Martin (Chuck), Denny Charles Martin and Albert Kevin Martin (Kevin).  Although she only gave birth to the four above, she was a mother to all who needed one.  Anthony Owens, Sr. (Tony) was not her son by birth, but by love.

BabyDoll was well known for her cooking skills, especially baking.  She didn’t wait for a holiday to cook huge, festive meals, the only reason she needed to cook was a  “hey BabyDoll I’m hungry, what you got in there?”  The stove and oven would immediately go full blast.

BabyDoll was the epitome of a strong woman.  She raised four strong young men and countless others along the way.  If you needed a place to stay and eat, you could just call on her.

The Lord saw that strength ebbing away and he thought it was a mighty good day to give her that sweet blessed sleep early Sunday morning, September 8, 2013.

Her son Ruben Michael Martin (Nelda) preceded her in death as well as parents and the following brothers and sisters:  Charles, Ernest, Ruben, Joe Louis, Bradley, Myrtle, Callie Mae, Sammie Lee, and Charlotte.

She leaves to mourn her passing three sons, Charleston Foley Martin (Liz), Denny Charles Martin and Albert Kevin Martin (Teresa) and that one niece that just would not go away, Bettye Gaye Clay (Joe).   Two sisters, Christine and Carlette (Elmorris, Sr).  Six grandchildren, Anthony Owens, Jr. (Tony), Anna Maria Martin, Jessica Martin, Brittany Martin, Dominique Martin and Anja Martin and a host of great grandchildren and other family members.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, September 12, 2013, in the Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.