Mattie Pearl (Martin) Tunstall

Mattie Pearl Tunstall (Mom) was born September 6, 1927 to Leola and Jack Martin, in Carthage, North Carolina.  She professed the Lord Jesus Christ early in life, served HIM fervently for the rest of her life, serving as Missionary, Evangelist, and dedicated outreach worker for Christ. 

She was the middle of seven siblings, Robert Martin, Addie McClinton, Jessie Knight, Cora Watkins, Augusta Payton, and Jarvis Martin.  Her parents and five siblings preceded her in death; Cora Watkins survives her.  The Lord blessed her with hosts of nephews and nieces throughout first, second, and third generations that she enjoyed individually as well as collectively.  

Mom married the late James Earl Tunstall in the summer of 1950.  The Lord graced that union with five children, Betty V. Allen (Calmeze) and Bobby V. Tunstall of Kansas City, Missouri, James E. Tunstall, Jr. (deceased), Wendy Y. Tunstall of Lithonia, Georgia, and Elizabeth E. St. Fleur (Fritz) of Tampa, Florida.  She also had six grandchildren, James Tunstall., Cherise Brown, Diane Bell, Natalie Balius, Karlton Allen, Fontaine St. Fleur and Nia Tunstall, and five great grandchildren, Jamal Tunstall, Amanda Brown, Kaleb Allen, Aileena St. Fleur, and Davina Bell. 

Mom worked over thirty years in mental health care at Willowbrook State School in Staten Island and Suffolk Development in Suffolk County in Long Island.  She also served geriatric and disabled clients in private duty nursing over twenty years.  The Lord blessed mom to balance her illustrious career between raising us, five children along with the first grandchild, while remaining faithful in ministry.  

Mom was the quintessential Mother and caregiver always embracing the cares and needs of the less fortunate and liberally sharing her resources even sacrificing time and money.  She was one of the most selfless people you will ever meet at work, in the community, and the Church and never met a stranger.  Her mindset perceived a stranger as simply friend she had not met and somehow blessed.  

Mom lived life to the fullest and enjoyed a plethora of rich experiences that few if any contemporaries ever know.  She traveled extensively across the country as far as Alaska domestically, supporting family and ministry.  She drove from the east coast to west coast and from far north to the Deep South.  International travel destinations included; Canada, Germany, Greece, and the Holy Lands of the Middle East.  She loved spending time with family and especially with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

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