Ophelia Martin

Ophelia was born Ophelia McCain in Jamaica Queens, New York to Bassie and Clarinda McCain. 

She was the sixth of a large family of 17 children.  Growing up within a strong Christian household, she took Jesus Christ as her savior at a young age. She was baptized by Dr Gregory of Bethany Baptist Church of Jamaica Queens.  She graduated from John Adams High School. 

She worked for Ma Bell as a telephone operator in the days when they had to manually patch calls thru on a telephone switchboard. 

She married William Ringgold and had two children, Linda and Martin, they relocated to California some years later.  

In California she became an avid beach goer and spent all summer there with her husband and kids.  Always packing the best food and prepared to stay all day.   

She worked in the clerical and medical field for over 50 years, starting as a stenographer and accounting clerk and fast moving up thru the years to executive secretary.  She worked at Pam Am Airlines, Teledyne Ryan, NAACP, YMCA amongst others.   

She married Vasco Martin and had a daughter; Vavella Martin her traveling continued and wherever they lived, she made it a home. Germany, Missouri, Japan and back to California she always kept an immaculate home and something good was always on the stove. 

She also lived in Arizona with her daughters and son and grandchildren; Sydney, Dakota, Kai, Caleb, Ebony, Marcus Jr and Mareema. 

Wherever she lived she always found a church home. She loved going to church and being involved. You could always count on her to bring her secretarial and culinary talents.  She enjoyed attending bible study and fellowshipping with others.   

She loved cooking and family, and friends would call on her for many of her tasty, delicious dishes and she was happy to cook for all.  

After retiring in Arizona, she returned to the east coast area, settling in Pennsylvania to help care for her mother until her passing. 

She was again around some of her siblings and that made her very happy.  

When she returned to live in California, she enjoyed spending time with her great grandchildren, Kameron and Khody. 

Kameron says he loved Grandma and remembers having a pizza party with her in her care facility and she told us to climb on the bed to sit with her, we thought we would hurt her, but she didn’t mind, and we ate pizza and laughed together.  

She had the gift of hospitality and made everyone feel welcome.  

“Have I not commanded you? 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you do”  

Joshua 1:9 

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