Martha Hoff Little, born on December 2, 1924 in Winterville, North Carolina to the late Willie and Mae Bell (Coward) Boyd. She departed this life peacefully on May 29, 2015 at the age of 90, in Branford, CT at Hospice.
She was also pre-deceased by her late husband, Steven Little, Jr. an Uncle, Bishop Arlester Coward and a great, great nephew, Tyler Coward.
Her mother was a missionary who spread the word of God, the late Mae Bell Boyd. She had two children, Gloria Jean Richardson and Martha Ann Wilson, both of New Haven, CT and two sons that she raised Arthur L. Boyd (Courtli), and Willie G. Boyd (Sandra). Martha was the oldest of three children. She had two younger brothers Thomas and Willie Boyd. Martha was raised and baptized in the Holy Spirit under the Pentecostal church doctrine, and from an early age, the church was her foundation.
She has to her credit Ten Grand Children, Gary S. Little (Tamra), Anthony P. Richardson (Tanya), Kimberly R. Richardson (Ronald), Laticia A. Cannon, Jahmal A. Cannon (Mindy), Reggie J. Furlow, Nikol Robinson, Letha Lilly, Codi Chiles and Valyn Nuggie Chiles.
She has fifteen Great Grand Children; Lajharra Richardson, Jasmine Cannon, Anthony Smith, Calvin Bradley, Chadee’ Howell (Cyrill), Amber Kennedy, Daya Kennedy, Jahmal Cannon, Jr., LeAndre’ Mewborn, Mehki Brown, Nasir Richardson, Silver Richardson, Bria Robinson, Zola Richardson, Damar Thomas, Lakisha Pryor, Leneek Pryor Joseph and Latifah Pryor.
She was also blessed to have twenty-one Great Great Grands: Cajuan Bradley, Z’niya Guiont, Tyjuan Bradley, Chywon Turner, Brooklyn Dior Cannon, Gianna Marie Cannon, Zianna and Jeramie Spratley, Nahla Nyair Carter, Reggie Furlow, Jr., Philip Furlow, Amari Smith, Keyishon Miller, Deyishon Miller, Nylah Pryor, Terrell Pough, Ta’hlei Prior, Khmira Khmani Pryor, Aariuna Pryor, Journei Pryor, Isaiah Patterson, Hunter Rose Moye, Dawanna Gibbs and Shawn Gamble. Neices, Gloria Person (Harold), Jesse T. Brewington (Ezzie), Rosalie Brewington, and Namond E. Brewington (Carolyn) all from Greenville, NC. Special Cousins, Mae Bell Evans, Lillie Carmon, Lizzie Mewborn, Rosa Bryant, Lucille Davis, Dorothy Newsome, Betty Barfield, James Artis and John Thomas all of Greenville, NC, Great niece, Pastor Victoria Coward-Levine, In-laws Bruce & Sharon Tyson, Beverly Richardson, Bernard Richardson, Roderick Richardson, Brandon Tyson, Brittany Tyson, Venetia Armfield, Quianna Richardson, Shanna Richardson, Jamarr Daniels.
In the early 1940’s Martha moved to New York, there she joined the late Bishop Well’s Church, COGIC. She shortly returned to Greenville, NC to give birth to her then second born, Ann. Returning to New York for a short time, in the early 1950’s prior to hearing a word from the Lord to relocate to New Haven, CT, she packed her children and headed to her new home.
Martha Hoff-Little began her membership at Trinity Temple in the year of 1952 and has been a devoted member until this day. She loved and always prayed for Bishop C, H, Brewer Jr and Pastor C.H. Brewer III and the church. In her later years, health and mobility issues prevented her from getting out and attending service as much as she would have liked, but she served under one Bishop, Bishop Charles H. Brewer, Sr. She was a church mother, a dynamic missionary, and has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Prayer and Bible Band Leadership and a Y.P.W.W. Instructor. She was also one of Trinity’s best cooks, specializing in her famous fried chicken and Pineapple Cake.
She had so many spiritual daughters and sons, some who came to Christ because of her, and were encouraged along their journey with and through her dedication to the Lord. Some of her closest friends in New Haven were Theresa Williams, Frances Lawrence, Mother Taylor, Mother Emma Allen, Mother Charlotte Edwards, Mother Bernice Estes, Shirby Grayson, the Bert’s, the Moore’s and the Townsends, all whom served on various boards in the church.
She was always an active member of her congregation, The Church of God in Christ was her home. In addition to playing the piano, guitar and singing in the choir… special times of the year included Christmas, Easter, and the church’s Spring Conference and Convocation.
As a devoted lifetime member of the Gibson Chorale, and the Connecticut Mass Choir, Martha had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States to cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nassau ,Bahamas and Memphis (to name a few). Martha’s fondness for performing did not stop with just singing, acting was also on her bio, she was a member of Vital Element Productions performing arts theater group, and a member of the Epps Alumni Association in Greenville, NC.
Martha has proven to be a warrior for Christ. She was a faithful servant of the Lord and is worthy to be honored as a true ambassador for God. Many people have been healed, delivered, saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost under her influence. One of her life’s testimonies was to leave this earth through praise and worship, for it was the life she truly lived. .
A celebration of Mrs. Boyd-Little’s life and legacy will be held Thursday, June 4, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Temple COGIC, 285 Dixwell Ave., New Haven. Viewing will be held at the church from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery