THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601260213
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Christine Points
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
A vision is the driving force behind the ``Feeding the Hungry Ministry'' at Third Baptist Church on Godwin Street - an 82-year-old vision in a dress and high heels, with a ``vision'' of her own.
Martha Brown - or ``the lady with the high heels,'' as she is affectionately referred to at Third Baptist Church - is fulfilling a mission to feed the hungry in Portsmouth.
The grandmother of 10 founded the ministry, which recently celebrated its 10th year, when she and several other church women prepared a dinner for their pastor and several visiting preachers from Richmond.
``There was all kinds of food - fried chicken, potato salad, string beans, candied yams, ham, pickled beets, apple pie a la mode and coffee and iced tea,'' said Brown. ``And what happened was that there was too much food.''
Brown suggested that they take the leftover food to Oasis.
``I was on the way there on High Street when the Lord gave me the vision for the ministry,'' Brown said.
``As I told the pastor and the other members (when I started),'' said Brown, ``I want to serve them meals that I would eat myself.''
Brown still coordinates and cooks most Fridays.
From barbecue ribs and macaroni and cheese to fish and black-eyed peas (``They do like black-eyed peas,'' she said), Brown strives to honor the commitment to quality she made when she began the ministry.
And judging from the attendance they receive every Friday - between 100 and 200 people are fed each week - she and the others who help are doing just that.
``The auxiliaries, choirs, ushers, individuals and couples of the church buy the food and serve each week,'' Brown said.
In addition to the group that's organizing for the week, some 13 others show up regularly to help serve. That's up from about five or six women that would come when they first began.
``About four of the 13 that come now are men,'' said Brown.
Name: Martha Brown.
Nickname: Mama Brown.
Neighborhood: Prentis Park.
Number of years in Portsmouth: All of my life.
Birthplace: Pinners Point.
Birthday: March 14.
Occupation: None.
What job other than your own would you like? None.
Marital status: Widow.
Children/grandchildren: Five children: Faustine, Virgie, Milton, Alton, Lemuel, ages 53 to 63; 10 grandchildren ages 22 to 37.
Fondest childhood memory: Boat rides with my mother.
First concert: Mahalia Jackson.
What song or book title best describes your life? ``If I can help somebody then my living will not be in vain.''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? I don't play.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? I like who I am.
Biggest accomplishment: When I completed Virginia Union University Tidewater Area Extension School of Theology.
Most embarrassing moment: Wore a new hat with the tag in it.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? More patience.
Perfect way to spend the day: Visiting the sick, taking them flowers from the church.
I can't resist: Drinking ginger ale.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: China Garden.
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Third Baptist Church.
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Drugs.
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be? Get rid of drugs and violence and make the streets safer.
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? I like living in Portsmouth because of its seafood. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB