Martha A Arnold

On Saturday March 28, 2015 our loving mother went home suddenly and unexpectedly to be with The Lord that she served faithfully throughout her entire life. Martha Alice Arnold was the loving wife of John Arnold Jr. of 48 years who preceded her in death. At a young age she started teaching primary boys and girls in Sunday school it was there that she found her calling to fulfill the mission of God which inspired and enriched her life and the lives of so many. It thrilled her heart to know that she would play a part in leading children to Christ. She pursued that calling at California Baptist College where she met the love of her life, John Arnold Jr. who shared that same calling. After completing their education they set off for the mission field and began their life together. They served the Lord through the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board for over twenty years. Martha was a pastor’s wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a devoted teacher all of her life. The homecoming celebration of Martha has begun, those not yet in attendance at the heavenly homecoming are left in awe of her hasty passing and shed tears for the lost opportunity to say goodbye, I love you, Thank you, and you’ll be missed. But just as the Lord promised; we will hold on because we know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Ps. 30:5. We stand together now in sorrow and joy to say goodbye to our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She has left us a legacy of instruction and love. Like the woman spoken of in Proverbs 31 we her children stand together today and call her blessed. Martha leaves behind five children who loved her dearly Sharon Arnold, Cheryl (Wayne) Berry, James Edward Arnold, Phyllis (Tim) Levault, and Patricia (Fred) Wheeler. Together our mother and father have helped raise and influence their eight grandchildren who they loved dearly: Andrea (Justin Duval), Matthew (Rosa) Berry, Rebecca Berry, Jacob Berry, Jonathan Wheeler, Lawrence Wheeler, Mercedez Wheeler, and Andrew Wheeler. Eight great grandchildren, Justin A Duval, Kate Duval, James Duval, Hannah Duval, Caleb Berry, Nikolas Bamfo, Johan Bamfo, and Logan Wheeler. With great joy and celebration Martha stepped out of a life of illness, weakness and pain, straight into the arms of her savior Jesus Christ. She was met by our father, her husband John Arnold Jr. and her entire Gentry family who had all preceded her in death.