Georgia Martin was an Evanston "godmother."
We were so saddened to hear about the passing of Georgia Peachy Martin on Saturday. Georgia was an Evanston community "cheerleader," who loved the people of the city and who, in turn, was loved by many.
I knew Georgia from The Officer and Gentlemen Academy, a program founded in 2017 by Evanston Police Department Officer Adam Howard that mentors young Black men in Evanston to help improve their quality of life and minimize the education opportunity gap and high rates of incarceration.
Officer Howard mourned Georgia's loss on his Facebook page Saturday.
"We began as a program, but you entered our lives and made us a family," he wrote. "You treated every young man like your own son. You served with joy and your impact in the community will never be forgotten."
Tre Wright, an OGA graduate who was a student in the program's first cohort says, "Ms. Georgia was literally like the mother of OGA. She made sure we had food and she helped put together fun events. She was a big part of the program because all of the kind stuff she did for us. She truly just wanted to help out whenever she could. Ms Georgia’s kindness in OGA will be forever missed."
Tawana Sudduth Ross, parent liaison for the OGA, says that Georgia was simply a fairy godmother. "That’s just who Georgia was," Tawana told me this evening. "Not just to the young men of OGA, but to all of us in the organization. No matter what we needed she was there with a smile and kind words. She was that favorite auntie to all the boys. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe the love and support Georgia gave us. We will truly miss her."
Funeral service will be this Friday at 11 a.m., with visitation prior at 10 a.m. at First Church of God Christian Life Center, 1524 Simpson Street. Burial right after at Memorial Park Cemetery 9900 Gross Point Road, Skokie.
For anyone who'd like to support Georgia's family in their time of mourning, you can participate in the meal train that's been organized by Brittani Fields. Sign up to provide a meal to the family here.
Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to Georgia's family and many friends.
Click here to learn more about OGA.
