Julia Bonita Martin

Julia Bonita Martin was born September 5, 1940 in Portsmouth, VA. She took piano lessons at the age of 10 for about 2 years until her piano teacher said she’d taught Bonita all she could teach her. At 12 years of age, she began playing the piano for her church, Grove Park Baptist Church in Portsmouth. She continued playing until her family moved to Florida when she was 14 years old in 1954. Shortly after moving to FL, her family began attending Lake Hill Baptist Church in Orla Vista where she was very much involved in the music ministry and continued playing the piano for her church. She graduated from Lakeview High School in 1958 and began working for an advertising agency. Her walk to that job had her passing a car lot where Don worked with his dad. They were married on September 19, 1959. Bonita later worked as a secretary for Phillips 66 corporate office in Orlando. Don soon opened a car lot of his own in Leesburg and the family moved to Leesburg in 1971. Bonita continued to be active in the music ministry at Calvary Baptist Church in Leesburg where she founded the ladies group, “The Calvary Quartet”. She later taught Music and Choir at Lake Christian School as well as taught private piano lessons out of her home. In 1985, her family joined Grace Bible Baptist Church where she was a member for 41 years. The ladies quartet took on a new name, “The Gloryland Quartet” which she continued leading. She and Don enjoyed many years of travelling and especially loved the mountains in North Carolina. They were able to travel to 47 states before God called Don home in 2009. After his passing, she was able to get to the remaining 3 states and being able to say she had travelled to all 50 of the United States gave her much joy. She had also traveled to numerous countries and was blessed to have gone on 4 missions trips with groups from Grace Bible Baptist Church. Bonita continued to be active in the music ministry of Grace until her first stroke in 2021 which happened at the very piano she played each Sunday. Her greatest joy came from her family and spending time with them. Even through the physical challenges of the last couple of years of her life, she still radiated love and grace to those she was around. Attending church remained a huge part of her life and was something she looked forward to every week until her passing. She is preceded in death by her father, Marquis Julian Dowda, her mother, Thelma Culotta, her brother, Claude Morgan Dowda, sister, Delores Elaine Dowda, her husband, Don Michael Martin and great grandson, Maddox Morgan Wright. Those left to cherish her memory are her loving sister, Shelbie Dasilva, her children: son, Randy Martin (Vera), son/nephew, Stan Gause (Tara), daughter, Donita Martin, son, Dennis Martin (Kim), 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family. Visitation will be Thursday, September 3, 2026, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Grace Bible Baptist Church in Leesburg. The Celebration of Life service will be at 12 p.m. followed by interment at Lone Oak Cemetery. A meal will follow with family and friends in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Building Fund of Grace Bible Baptist Church, 1703 Lewis Road, Leesburg, FL 34748. MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 700, Fruitland Park FL 34731-0700. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home of Leesburg, Florida.

Julia Bonita Martin

September 5, 1940 - August 27, 2026