Elder Martha Z. Garkpi was born on December 15, 1949, in Zia, Lower Nimba County, Liberia. She was known to be a major pillar in every community in which she lived. She was very skilled and had many trades and titles to prove it. She was a wonderful mother, evangelist, and educator, striving to serve her people as God called her to do. She was an elder at Living Word Ministries International (Houston, Texas) and was also the matriarch of the church family. She taught at all of the Calvary Baptist Schools and Living Word Academy in Monrovia, Liberia, as well as the Alpha Child Development Center in Houston. Ms. Martha's love for her people was apparent and a blessing in many lives. She spread her wings and flew home June 17, 2017, leaving behind this legacy and many people who loved her. As a result of her hard work, she was posthumously awarded a proclamation from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson (Texas) in July of 2017.