First Lady Emeritus Mother Marie Bartley

First Lady Emeritus Mother Marie Bartley 82 formerly of New Jersey departed this life on February 13, 2024. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:00am at the New Hope Memorial Baptist Church 91 Division Street Elizabeth, NJ. Visitation 9:00am until time of service. Arrangements are in the loving care of the Nesbitt Funeral Home 165 Madison Avenue Elizabeth, NJ.

Mother Bartley leaves a loving family and dear friends to cherish her memory.  Mother Marie Bartley was a kind-loving, gentle, and generous soul, who always had

something nice to say about everybody. She had a gift for seeing the good in anyone.

Mother Bartley took the time to listen and pray with people, who were in need. She’ll be

remembered for her warm smile and comforting hugs, by the time you left her presence,

you felt loved. This compassion for others spilled over into her occupation as well. Marie

worked in the medical field as an Electro-Diagnostic Technician. Her career in the

medical field spanned over 30 years until she retired from the St. Elizabeth Hospital,

Elizabeth, NJ.

Marie transitioned peacefully in her home on Feb.13th, 2024, at the age of 82. She was

born on Jan. 16 th , 1942, to the late William T. Mars, Sr., and Lena Bennett-Mars. As a

child, she was very mischievous playing practical jokes on her younger brothers, often

with the aid of her late aunt Mother Annie Mingledolph.

Lady Bartley was a devout Christian who served in many roles alongside her husband of

34 years the late Pastor Emeritus Rev. Cornelius Bartley, Sr., at the New Hope Memorial

Baptist Church, Elizabeth, NJ. Marie loved to praise the Lord. She had a praise like none

other. At times, you could catch her jumping up during a worship service and cutting a

Holy Ghost three step all while holding her hat in place as her devoted husband, with the

biggest smile, lovingly looked on. She was a lady in all her ways. Marie enjoyed working

with the youth and adored the elderly.

Later in life, Rev. Bartley and Marie retired and relocated, returning to his hometown of

Rocky Mount, NC, where their Christian servitude continued at the East End Baptist

Church co-labouring with Rev. Mack E. Battle and Leading Lady Deborah J. Battle. Her

faithful service extended to the Edgecombe/Nash Ministers Wives and Ministers Widows

Association membership as an Intercessor. Lady Bartley was a true Prayer Warrior and

knew how to get a prayer through!

Mother Bartley was predeceased by her husband Rev. Cornelius Bartley, Sr., son Dan O.

Hamilton Jr., her parents, William T. Mars, Sr., Mother Lena Boykin & stepfather Trustee

Benjamin Boykin, brothers William T. Mars, Jr. “Goodboy”, Jesse E. Mars, and Benny D.

Mars, Sr., and sister Mary E. Dantzler.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory, her children Marie Surrency, Dana Logan

(Ray), Sharon Cherry (Wallace), Wilda McGugan (Anthony), Rev. Steffie Bartley, Sr.

(Harriet), Cornelius Bartley III (Sheryl), and Joseph, her sister Delora Mars, brothers

Robert Lee Mars and Harry A. Mars (Judy), a special niece and nephews Ambakisye and

Richard Loring, and Lewis “Jabo” White, God-daughter Antiqua “Lynn” Leak, devoted

cousin Martha Fowler, Sister-in-law Deaconess Alice Davis, Brother-in-law Willie “Bill”

Bartley (Joyce) good friends Mother Mary Hankins and Sis. Mary (NC) and a host of

grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, cousins, and friends.

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