Ernestine Miriam Martin was born on April 13, 1928, in Allen, Louisiana to the late Ernest Smith and Sevilla (McDuell) Smith.  After she left Louisiana, the family moved to San Diego, California.

She graduated from San Diego High School and went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University.  Her passion was in early childhood education and teaching.  She went on to establish the "San Diego Reading Clinic" that focused on Reading Readiness, Math, Phonics, and the Arts.  Her preschool was of special significance to her.  She wanted to prepare her children to excel and succeed in all their academic pursuits.

Ernestine met and married her long-time love, William Martin, Jr. in 1949.  They were married for 66 years until his passing in 2015.  She resided in California for the majority of her life and recently decided to move to Virginia to be near her family.

She was a woman of faith and will be remembered for her great desire to help others and her love of Jesus Christ.

Ernestine was called to rest on May 16, 2023 at 1:50 a.m.  She is survived by Susan Coley, niece; Michael Coley and Darren Smith, nephews; Patrice Coley-Eaglin, niece; and David Emmanuel, cousin.  A sister-in-law, Virgie (Martin) Wooten, along with the loving nieces and nephews on her predeceased husband, William Martin, Jr. side.

Ernestine will be missed by a host of relatives, friends and acquaintances whose lives she has so richly touched.