Mother Elise Martin—Lived to be 108!
Obituary
Elise Jones Martin lived well past a century and passed on June 1, in Palo Alto, California, in the loving presence of her family. Mrs. Martin was 108 and had lived through two pandemics and 12 US presidents. She was highly respected for her compassion, wisdom, and accomplishments.
She served on many community, political, and advocacy groups and was a trusted friend of U.S. Representative James Clyburn. Her bedroom held photos of her with former President Barak Obama when he was campaigning at Benedict College and with then Rep. Joe Biden at a Clyburn fish fry.
Mrs. Martin taught Cosmetology at Booker T. Washington High School and owned several beauty salons, including Elise Beauty Shop on Washington Street, which opened in the late 1930s on what is known as “Black Wall Street.” The shop, with its art deco manicure tables and starched skirts, was cited for demolition, and she next became the first black woman to own a business on Main Street–a wig shop and boutique.
The 2022 African American History Calendar featured her, and she served on numerous local groups, including the Columbia Zoning Commission, the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development, the City Beautification Committee, the Drew Park board, and the Jones-McDonald Community Club, which was co-founded by her mother, Fannie Jones.
She moved to Palo Alto to live with her daughter, Loretta Martin Green, when she was 98 and continued her civic involvement. She stayed connected to Columbia acquaintances through long phone conversations and played Words with Friends on her iPad until age 106, when her vision decreased.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, June 17 at 11 AM at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 819 Woodrow St., Columbia. Palmer Memorial Chapel of Columbia is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to a charity to be announced.
Family members left to cherish her memory include her son, Montez “Tommy” (Jacquie) Martin, Jr., Loretta Martin (Bill) Green, her “daughter, by God’s grace,” Sandra Hayes (Archie) Patterson. Also, grandchildren Nicole Elise Green, Inelle Lisa Green, Roderic Martin Green (Tammy), the late Bill Green Jr. and the late Tanya Elise Oubre (Kent) Pekel, Terrie Lanita (Wendell) Rayburn, Emily-Elise Martin, Montez C. (Angela) Martin III. Also cherishing her legacy are fifteen (15) great-grandchildren.
Published by Palmer Memorial Chapel – Columbia on Jun. 10, 2023.
