She lived through two world wars, saw the rise of the digital age, and watched her family tree grow across four generations.

Now, the remarkable life of Martha Mathee has come to a peaceful close. The beloved family matriarch passed away on November 7 at the extraordinary age of 107.
Born on January 2, 1918, to Simon Mathee and Martha Jacobs, she was the third of 15 siblings, a childhood that taught her unity, humility, and resilience long before those words became her legacy.

In her twenties, Martha worked as a domestic helper for a Jewish family in Balmoral, where she earned a reputation for grace, discipline, and kindness.
Those years, she would later say, “taught me to serve with heart, not duty.”

Known for her deep faith and gentle wisdom, Martha became the steady heartbeat of her family.
As a herbalist and spiritual guide, she offered comfort and healing to those who sought her help. Her kitchen was never without a pot of tea, her hands never too tired to tend to another.

Martha was the proud mother of two daughters, Denise Maphela and Sheila Rayters, and opened her heart and home to foster children who became part of her extended family.

Through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, her legacy of love continues to flourish. She often said, “I aged gracefully because I honoured my mother and father.”

Those words, her family says, now feel like a parting gift, a reminder of the simple values that shaped her extraordinary journey.

“Martha was more than a mother and a guide; she was a light that never dimmed.”

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