Maria De Jesus Martinez, born on January 1, 1949, in Calexico, California, went with the Lord on September 22, 2025. Maria grew up in the Three Rocks area as the oldest of thirteen brothers and sisters. When not helping her mom with her siblings, she worked alongside her family in the fields picking cotton. She attended Tranquillity High School and graduated from Chula Vista High School. In 1969, she married Gary L. Alexander and later gave birth to her son, Gary L. Alexander Jr. They moved to the San Joaquin Valley, making their home in Fresno and Clovis. In 1981, Jesus became her Lord and Savior and turned her dreams into His desires. Her life underwent a drastic change; once driven by her earthly gain, she now had a desire for others to know the Lord Jesus. She shared the Good News of the gospel in word and deed while working as a Bilingual Tutor/Liason at Mickey Cox Elementary School and Washington Union High School. Being an avid cleaner and loving her church family, she later worked at Riverpark Bible Church.
Later in life, she married Lupe Willie Martinez, and together, they shared the gospel with the inmates at the local jail and prisons. After Willie's passing, Maria moved to live with her son and his family in Wisconsin. She cherished living with her two young grandsons, who affectionately knew her as "Ata", short for Abuelita.
After years of decline, she was released from the prison of Alzheimer's and went home to be with her Savior. To the end, she had confidence in her future, not because of what she did, but because of what Jesus did on the cross on her (and our) behalf.
This is the gospel (the good news of God): The Ten Commandments are called the Moral Law; we broke the Law; Jesus paid the fine. Jesus died on the cross, taking on Himself the full punishment that we deserve. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death and making a way for us to be with the Father forever and ever, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus did. When we put our complete trust in the Lord Jesus for our salvation, the Father, rich in mercy, will grant us everlasting life.
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
A memorial service will be held at Palm Memorial - Kerman Chapel, located at 538 South Madera Avenue,
Kerman, CA 93630, on October 6, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Following the memorial service, a
graveside service will be held at Fresno Memorial Gardens, 175 S. Cornelia Ave, Fresno, CA 93706, from
11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
