Martha Lambert Gilbert was without question a marvellous woman. She lived a great life, to the fullest, being less than three months short of celebrating her 100th birthday when her mortal remains were laid to rest in the St James Cemetery, Sandys on Tuesday.

Martha Letitia Ruth was one of nine children born to Richmond and Annawade Lambert of Devonshire. She was predeceased by her brothers: Lawson and wife Clara; Reuben and wife Helen; Palmer, wife Gwen; David Lambert and wife Inez; Joseph, wife Peggy. Also there were the sisters, Cynthia Nearon and spouse Maurice; Estelle Jenkins, husband Albert and Margaret Easton, husband Burl.

The Lamberts were a family of great achievers. This columnist, back in my old Bermuda Recorder newspaper days and subsequently, knew them well. I state with great respect, ‘I could hardly escape them! They were positive producers on so many different fronts.

Then there were the younger offspring, like Travis and brother, John Gilbert, sons of Martha. Travis incidentally is head of all Scottish Freemasons in Bermuda. John is a retired practitioner after many years in the Island’s court systems.

Martha received her early education at the Hattie Burgess School on Flatts Hill and at Elliot School, Devonshire. She went to work straight from school, engaged by Walter Darrell, a merchant tailor. Martha and all her sisters became accomplished seamstresses.

At age 24 Martha became the wife of John Herbert Gilbert, a first class carpenter from Somerset. She was by then an entrepreneur — a fiercely independent woman who was admired for the ease with which she juggled her roles of wife, mother and seamstress.

She held the contract for many years to make all Cable and Wireless Uniforms; and additionally outfitted brides and their maids throughout the Island. She was unselfish in sharing the knowledge of her trade, generously passing her skills to others.

Parish Rector, the Ven, Dr Arnold Hollis officiated at the home-going service for Martha. He said the hundreds packing St James Church was evidence of the great esteem in which she was held by the community at large. Canon Thomas Nesbitt and Dr Colin M. Lambert read the Scripture lessons from Proverbs and 1 Corinthians. The Rev Carl Williams offered words of comfort.

Twenty odd nieces, nephews and grandchildren came from overseas, from Paris, London, California, New York and Arkansas, joining their kin in the ancestral homeland to pay last respects to a generous, selfless, blessed person, never to be sick in her entire life.