Dr. Angela Martin built a life around service.
To many in Chicago, she was a familiar voice on gospel radio.
To others, she was a prayer warrior, minister, teacher, and source of encouragement.
But no matter how people came to know her, the impact was similar: Dr. Angela Martin made people feel seen, uplifted, and reminded that faith could carry them through hard seasons.
That impact was reflected in the tributes that poured in after her passing, with friends, listeners, ministry partners, and community members remembering Martin as a woman of faith, encouragement, and unwavering purpose.
That example was echoed by Love McPherson, a certified counselor, relationship expert, speaker, author, and media personality, who reflected on visiting Martin in the hospital just 10 days before her transition. McPherson described Martin as “fearless,” writing that Martin told her several times, “Love, I’m not afraid, not one bit, I’m a Soldier!”
McPherson also reflected on the fullness of Martin’s life, writing, “Angela did more in 62 years than some do in a lifetime twice that long.”
Martin’s impact was also felt across the broader gospel community.
Gospel artist Jekalyn Carr remembered Martin as “truly heaven-sent,” writing in a public tribute that she would miss “the way she kept me encouraged and focused.”
Martin was born on March 11, 1964, and transitioned on April 7, 2026, at 62 years old.
Her story was bigger than one title.
Before fully stepping into ministry, Martin spent 23 years at AT&T and built a long career in broadcasting. The Chicago Defender reported that her path included years in radio and a leap of faith that changed the direction of her life. That move eventually led her to devote herself more fully to purpose-driven work through Angela Martin Ministries.
In Chicago media, Martin’s voice reached listeners across multiple stations and shows. CBS Chicago reported that her media career stretched nearly two decades and included work at Crawford Broadcasting, Clear Channel, and iHeartMedia stations. She hosted “Sky High Praise” on 106.3 WYBA, served as a traffic announcer for The Tom Joyner Morning Show on WVAZ 102.7, and later became a familiar voice on Inspiration 1390.
Her excellence did not go unnoticed.
In 2015, Martin received a Stellar Award for Gospel Announcer of the Year. That same year, she also received an Echoes in Excellence Award in media and journalism from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Her work in broadcasting made her a trusted and respected presence in gospel media, but it was her ministry that would define the next chapter of her life.
That chapter had already been taking shape for years.
According to her ministry website, Martin founded Onederful Prayer in 2011 to teach and train women to develop a more personal and intentional prayer life. The ministry describes it as a monthly gathering centered on helping women deepen their relationship with God.
Martin’s ministry continued to grow over time. She published the book “Let Me Teach You How to Pray Everyday” in 2019, and her website says the book reached No. 1 on Amazon’s New Releases. During the pandemic, she also launched P.O.P.-Up, or People Online Praying Up, a virtual weekly prayer gathering created to keep people connected in faith while physically apart.
Her work earned recognition beyond the church and radio booth.
In 2023, Martin received an honorary doctorate of divinity from the WWMI Bible Institute and Seminary. In 2025, she was named one of the Chicago Defender’s Women of Excellence, an honor that reflected not only her achievements, but also the depth of her community impact.
What made Martin’s story especially powerful was the way she talked about purpose. In her Chicago Defender feature, she described leaving corporate life and stepping into something bigger, saying she wanted “no boundaries” and “no ceilings.”
“I wanted to go as far as the Lord wanted to take me,” Martin told the Chicago Defender.
That spirit of obedience, courage, and trust became a through line in the life she built.
Now, as loved ones prepare to celebrate her life, Chicago is remembering a woman whose voice carried far beyond the microphone.
Homegoing arrangements shared publicly list her celebration of life for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at New Life Covenant Church Southeast, with Pastor John F. Hannah officiating. The details shared online also invite loved ones to send photos, resolutions, and memories in her honor.
Dr. Angela Martin leaves behind more than memories. She leaves behind an example.
She showed what it looks like to use every season of life — corporate work, media, ministry, and personal testimony — as part of a bigger assignment.
For the people who heard her on the radio, prayed with her in community, or drew strength from her message, her legacy will continue to live on in the lives she helped strengthen.
Image Credit: Josh Reese
