Martha Mason

On Monday, June 6, 2022, at the age of 94, Martha Ann Iglehart Mason made the transition to be with her Lord. Although, we greatly miss her, we know that she is at peace where the angels sing, “Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is to come!” Martha Ann was the youngest of twelve children born to Henry Dirks Iglehart and Martha Ann Henderson Iglehart on June 3, 1928, in Onalaska, Texas. Her parents, with their precious “Doll Baby,” as she was called, and family moved to Waco, Texas where she accepted Christ at a young age. This directed her path in life, and she could often be found kneeling with her mom in prayer at home, and at the Iglehart Chapel Church of God in Christ, which was founded by her brother, the late Bishop T.D. Iglehart. She was a bright and inquisitive child and student, and, with the support of family, earned a degree from Paul Quinn College and completed her first Master’s degree at Howard University. During this time, after receiving her father’s blessing, a young handsome U.S. Army veteran, Hubert Mason, traveled to DC and proposed marriage to Martha in the courtyard of the university. Martha designed and skillfully made her beautiful wedding dress, and they were married on December 29, 1950, in Waco, Texas. Martha and Hubert quickly relocated to Chicago to start a new life and family, where they attended the iconic Roberts Temple COGIC. After the birth of their first son, Hubert, they moved to Evanston, Illinois, and the family grew to include six more sons and two daughters. A young, vibrant and very busy mother, Martha put serving God first, honored and loved her husband, and taught her children to love the Lord while attending the historic Williams Memorial COGIC. She was quite active in the church, and founded and led the Young Women’s Christian Council, which held weekly prayer meetings throughout the church community. As a talented seamstress, she began to assist her husband in meeting the needs of the growing family, hosting local clients, and those from communities north of Evanston. In the early 1960s Hubert and Martha became active members of Faith Temple COGIC, where Elder Carlis Moody and his wife Mary led them into a closer walk with Jesus with vibrant praise and worship, anointed teaching, prayer meetings, shut-ins and revivals. Martha and the family cherished those days and nights spent in the “behind-the-barbershop,” storefront church, with tambourines and dancing in the company of families like teenagers, John Brewer and Mary Roebuck, who would later become Martha’s pastors. During this time, Martha began to apply her academic credentials and crisis management skills to education, by becoming a highly desired substitute teacher in Evanston public schools. Her children were a living testament of her ability to handle anything that came her way. In June of 1968, the family moved north to Zion, Illinois, and joined Faith Tabernacle COGIC, where they soon became very active in teaching, altar, and music ministry. Martha acquired her missionary license, and further continued the work of the Lord. She initiated a prayer group amongst the communities that traveled from hosting home to home each Saturday for Noon Prayer. It was a wonderful way to start off each weekend. She often visited the elderly in nursing homes, stopped by to pray with the sick at home and in hospitals, and shared God’s Word wherever she went. After applying for a teaching position with Zion Elementary, Dist. #6, Martha was hired as a long term substitute teacher at Central Junior High School, and then accepted a position as Dean of Students. Martha encouraged students to be their best and work hard, and she also encouraged their parents to set higher standards for their children, and fully embrace the responsibilities of raising these future leaders of our communities. She worked alongside the school and district staff, guiding and mentoring them as well as modeling professional behaviors conducive to maintaining a successful educational environment. In 1988, Martha became the Assistant Principal, a position she enjoyed until retiring in 1992, after over 30 years in education. In the Fall of 1974, Hubert and Martha were inspired by God to join the ministry of Zion Temple COGIC, where Hubert later served as assistant pastor and eventually Pastor. As a Pastor’s wife, Martha continued to invite students and parents to join her at church. Just as she had done at Faith Tabernacle Church, her love for people and the Lord compelled her to invite and bring carloads of students and ask other members to pick up children as the numbers grew. In 1992 Martha and Hubert relocated to San Antonio, Texas, and became active members of Alpha Joy COGIC. They supported other ministries in the area, while continuing to support ministries in Illinois. In 1999 her beloved husband of 48 years went to be with the Lord. In retirement, Martha enjoyed decorating her home, reading, sewing, hosting family and friends, writing, and long walks in San Antonio’s Hill Country. After sixteen years in Texas, she relocated back to Illinois where she spent fourteen years living with her daughters and visiting the many churches where she had fellowshipped. Martha has been recognized as “Mother of the Year” by the city of Zion, received a Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Most Influential African Americans of Lake County, an “Educator Award” by Zion’s Park District, and many other accolades. She is preceded in death by her parents, eleven siblings, husband, Hubert Mason, two sons, Horace Darnell Mason and Halquin Marcus Mason, grandson, Mark Malcum Mason, and great grandson, Jeremy Leroy Rivers-Mason. Left to cherish her memory are five sons, Hubert Mason, Herbert Mason, Henry (Kelly) Mason, Charles (aka, Chris) Mason, and Arlan Mason, two daughters, Yvette Pamela (Robert) Shadell and Yvonne Mason, daughter-in-law, Gayla, twenty grandchildren, Marc Mason, Sheridia (Oscar)Brown, Henry Mason, Gina Mason, Monica Mason, Evan Mason, Christopher Mason, Meshelle (Garner) Williams, Scott (Marcella) Brehm, Atria Mason, Crystal Mason, Darnell Mason Jr., Kaliamena Starr, Derrika Sanders, Errika Stiltner, Sir Robert Shadell, Arianna Mason, Hal Mason Jr., Alana Mason, and Xcavier Johnson, twenty-one great grandchildren, Corin, Trinity, Garner Jr., Aaron, Deja, Obie III, Lalah, Adrian, Brandon, Quavon, Atira, Dovante, Skyler, Isadora, Hoshi, April, Blake, Shane, Celeste, Chloe, Scarlette, one great great grandson, David, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd, Zion, IL 60099. Second visitation will be on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 10:00 A.M followed by service at 11:00 a.m., at Jesus Name Apostolic Church in Waukegan, IL. Interment will take place at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.