Denise Anita 'Niecy' (Alfred) Martin

Denise Anita (Alfred) Martin, better known as “Niecy” by family and friends, was born June 6, 1954 in Columbus, Ohio. She attended Columbus Public Schools and retired on disability from the City of Columbus after working as a Home Health Aide for many years. Growing up on the “East Side” of Columbus, Niecy loved skating at Rollerland and fishing with her best friend Diane. She also had a passion for cooking which she turned into a successful business called “Concert Caterers”. Her list of clients include many big names such as Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Prince, Kiss, New Edition, Cameo, Rick James, Patti Labelle and most others you can bring to mind. So beloved was her cooking (especially her peanut butter cookies), Niecy was often requested to travel with New Edition whenever they were anywhere in Ohio. After joining New Birth Christian Ministries, she used her gift to feed the homeless as part of the “Food for the Souls” Homeless Ministry. She was known for her fighting spirit and was affectionately called “Feisty Little Niecy” since she could out run and out box most of the boys in the neighborhood. It was that fighting spirit that carried her through five brain surgeries. Despite these setbacks, Niecy fought on and continued living life to the fullest. From bartending at the “Office” to family trips with her children and grandchildren, Niecy enjoyed life and loved sharing with others. After a short battle with kidney cancer, Denise parted this life on Wednesday, November 28, 2012. She was preceded in death by her father Maurice T. Alfred, Sr., brother Gerald Alfred, Sr., stepfather John Redd, maternal grandparents Percy and Geraldine Reynolds, paternal grandparents Napoleon Rachel Rayford (Pete Alfred), aunt Dolly Westbrook, and beloved mother-in-law Rebecca Martin. She leaves her legacy of love to her daughters, Darlene (Alphonso) Phillips and Jerri Martin; son Robert “Shaft” Martin; beloved mother Barbara Alfred; brother Maurice T. Alfred, Jr. (Sharon); stepbrother Shawn Alfred; cherished grandchildren, Deja, Diamond, Briya, DeRomeo, Zaria, Brian, Destinee and Robert Jr.; great grandchildren, Ceaja, Christopher and C’niyah; nieces, Loretha (Lamont) Jackson, Shar-Reese Alfred, and Geneva Alfred-Thomas (Lance); nephews, Adonus, Martinus, and Christopher Alfred and Joseph Graves; former sisters- and brothers-in-law, and a host of cousins, great nieces and -nephews, other relatives and dear friends, including Diane Britford, her dearest friend since the age of 5.