Cordell "Jackie" Elizabeth Martin

Cordell Elizabeth “Jackie” (Forskin) Martin was the eldest of seven children from the union of the late Soloman E. Forskin and Louise I. (Smart) Forskin. She was born on October 29, 1936, in Kingston, Jamaica, WI, and parted this life on February 21, 2025, at her home in Atlanta, GA, surrounded by family.

She was educated in Jamaica and entered the banking world early as a bank teller at Scotia Bank and quickly advanced to working as a head bank teller at the Regional office. In 1968, she briefly moved to the United Kingdom. However, she only stayed for a few months, as she did not like the cold, damp weather. She took the final voyage of Queen Elizabeth I to New York. During her visit to New York, her childhood friend from the age of seven, Lorna Whittier, helped her to start the immigration process to the United States. She eventually went back into banking, working for Chemical Bank.

Jackie met William “Bill” Martin in 1972 and married in 1974. From that union, a daughter, Nicole, was born. She brought a son to the marriage from a previous relationship, Michael A Penso. Jackie, Bill, and Nicole made their home in Queens, New York, and in 1986, relocated to Littlestown, Pennsylvania, to a small fruit farm to pursue Bill’s dream of having a farm. They spent 20 years together on the farm and enjoyed gardening and growing Asian Pears.

In 2006, Jackie and Nicole relocated to Atlanta, GA, after her husband Bill passed away. Jackie was an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, coloring on her iPad, and keeping track of how often she beat the computer playing video games. She also enjoyed spending quality time with her daughter and her granddog, Kirah.

She became the matriarch of the Forskin family at an early age and, over the years, helped sponsor several family members to become citizens of the United States. She enjoyed spending time with her family, reminiscing on special moments with them, and watching her great-nephews excel in basketball.

She leaves to cherish her memories her loving daughter Nicole H. Martin, her son Michael A. Penso (Patricia), her sister Lillian V. Dineley, her brother Ralph W. Forskin (Margaret), her sister-in-laws Mozelle Braithwaite (Jorge), Alice Jones, Eleanor Forskin and Gloria Forbes-Forskin and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willam H. Martin Sr., brothers Lauron Forskin and Winston Forskin, and sisters Pauline Connett and Celia Cardoza.

Funeral Services are scheduled on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM from the Whitley Garner Funeral Home Chapel.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 10:00 AM until the hour of service.

If ordering a floral tribute, please contact our preferred florist for guaranteed service: Francis Florist, 12641 Veterans Memorial Highway, Douglasville, Georgia, 770-949-8711 or online at www.francesflorist.net

Thoughts and condolences to the family may be shared online at www.whitleygarner.com

Whitley Garner is honored to be entrusted with the services of Cordell "Jackie" Elizabeth Martin.

By being A Special Mother, you made memories of my childhood a priceless treasure. You gave me love without measure and a special family full of that love. You shared my smiles and my tears. With gentleness, you reprimanded me to teach me right from wrong. You encouraged me to go after my dreams and to believe in myself. You made me realize I would never be alone because you would always love me. Thank you for keeping watch over me (even if I sometimes didn’t want you to.) I am blessed to have you in my heart wherever I go, and I will love you with all my heart!!

Love Always Your Daughter

Nicole