Mother Martha Teresa Owens Poinsett
December 3, 1927 – April 11, 2020
Mother Ponsett lived in Brooklyn, New York for over fifty year. She attended school in Lawrenceville, Virginia, where she graduated from St. Paul’s College in 1949, with a major in Secretarial Science. She has always been a very active person since her youth. During high school, from 1941-145, she was Chaplain of the Student Alumni Club and the Annual Committee (Yearbook). She was also a member of the Choral and Chemistry Clubs. During college, she was Assistant Secretary of the Class, and served as a member of the Tiger Staff Future Business Leaders of America and the College Student Alumni.
Mother Poinsett was a founder of Mt. Horeb Congregation, Bronx, New York, Beth Ha-Tefilah, under the leadership of Rabbi Wentworth A. Matthew, and she was a charter member of B’nai Adath Kol Beth Yisrael, under the leadership of Rabbi Yirmeyahu Ben Yisrael. She was a Co-editor of the Hatzaad Harishon Newsletter and Chairperson of the Hatzaad Harishon Benefit Committee (1970) and Model Seder (1971). As a member of Makor, she was a chaperone during youth conventions. In addition, she has occupied such leadership positions as United Jewish Appeals Chairperson, Bushwick Social Services Center; four-year Trustee, Jewish Employees Association and member, Union of Orthodox Jews, Women’s Organization of Yeshiva University from 1969-1973. Other organizational affiliations include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Action Network, St. Paul’s College Alumni Association, and the Williamsburg Houses Tenants Association, where she was instrumental in getting additional lights throughout the area. She helped many youth in the community by giving letters of recommendation for school and employment.
In 1992, Mother Poinsett retired from the Department of Social Services as a Housing Consultant in the Bushwick Center. She was also JASA, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged.
Mother Poinsett was a gifted poet and singer who frequently inspired audiences with her spiritual and uplifting words.
Mother Poinsett was a leader and teacher. Indeed, she was a teacher of rabbis. She taught me many lessons that I will cherish forever. Most importantly, her courage and commitment gives me strength in difficult times.
I am in tears at the loss of such a remarkable woman
Our sincere condolence to Mother Poinsett Family. We will miss her singing with her beautiful soprano voice.Our favorites song she sang ” Wait on the Lord …He renew ..your strength..”. Leah, Samuel and Levy grew up attending Commandment Keepers Chief Rabbi Matthew Synagogue and your Mother sang in the choir. Wearing her choir robe. She inspire Beth Elohim Choir to sing Wait on the Lord. She will always be remembered with her beautiful smile, beautiful voice and her beautiful African Dress wear . She was a blessing to us all. May her soul rest in peace. Loving blessed Memories. Rabbinit Deborah Levy and Levy Family
Sending love, thoughts and prayers to our Poinsett family during this difficult time. We have vivid memories of Great Mother Poinsett at Beth Shalom for her strength leadership and kindness. May her memory be for an eternal blessing.
My heart is saddened by this. Ema Pointsett was a rock in all of our lives.
She will be truly missed.
Blessed be Hashem The true judge.
Precious in the sight of Yoh is the death of His servants. Psalms 116:15
May Yoh bless your soul Ema for a job well done.
Selah
I love Ema to the moon and back twice…Ema we spent many days laughing and singing in my livingroom…We would dance and laugh and talk about everything under the sun..Obama’s inauguration and election…we had a marvelous time…food..laughter and drink …Rain..sleek or snow…you made your way over…lits of joy!!!…I have a big smile on my face just thinking of our craziness…Ema you supported me in all my endeavors…first on line…lool…and wore my clothes well…fashion buff🙂…Chief Prince Hezekiah and I Love you…now and forevermore in our hearts……God Bless The Poinsett mespakah…Thank you for your love..energy and selflessness…..Rest comfortably In The Bosom Of The Almighty….🔯❤
Emo Martha Poinsett was a beautiful soul. We remember her as full of joy and a very spirited woman. She is the beloved grandmother to her own grands and my own children referred to her as Grammy because she showed such love and caring. I remember her being so happy at the various dances and functions that took place years back – she was always the first one on the dance floor! To Leah, Emmit, Rahum, Levab, and the rest of the family – we are so honored to have shared your mother and grandmother with you! To us, this feels like the end of an era…. Thank you so much for sharing so many happy memories with us. May our CREATOR take her in with loving arms.
Ema Poinsett will always be remembered. She was always very kind, lively and dedicated. She was like a grandmother to me. Condolences to Ema Leah and her children and the Poinsett family. Shalom.
Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth YAHOWAH, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Emma MARTHA T OWENS POINSETT was a PILLAR in our community.Having prayed and sang in all of our kinessiot. Those of us who new her may consider ourselves blessed to have shared her space. A wonderful dancer who displayed stamina whenever she hit the floor. loved to sing with an opera style voice.Dedicated Shabbat observer.”AN ACCOMPLISHED WOMEN WHO CAN FIND”.We at Beth Shalom Hebrew Cong.will surely miss her.May she rest in peace with the other souls in the garden of EDEN. RABBI YESHURUN BEN LEVY