He was known as “Jerry” all of his long life. It was a professional life that began in Berkeley as a drugstore delivery boy and ended as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Veterans Administration. It was a personal life that encompassed a long, happy marriage, produced children, grandchildren, and a great-grand, and gently touched the lives of countless friends. It was a helluva life.

Jerry grew up in Berkeley, attending its public schools, and developing his enterprising fascination with life on this Earth. It was there that he met his first wife, Nettie Mae Osibin, and had his first child, a daughter, Renetia. People from this part of his life remember him as a presence behind the counter at Rumford’s Pharmacy on Sacramento Street.

Jerry’s momentum gathered as he started a life-long relationship with the Army. Divorced from Nettie Mae, having travelled the world with the Merchant Marines, Jerry found himself, in 1950, newly-married to Leona Delcombre, known to all who loved her as “Doll;” stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington; and, in 1951, the father of his first son, Gerald.

Back in the Bay Area, Jerry worked full time for the California Amy National Guard. He also found himself and his new family — another son, Michael, came in 1954 — in El Cerrito, among the first Black families in the community. Accordingly, he was a pioneer in many areas of suburban normalcy, the first Black Cubmaster, the first Black PTA president. People from this part of his life remember him a father figure, often in uniform, faithfully attending one event or another that involved one active child or another.

The last child left for college, and Jerry’s career accelerated. After stints as Deputy Chief of Police, then City Manager of Compton, California, Jerry found himself in Washington, D.C. There, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, first at FEMA, then at the Veterans Administration, from which he retired in 1989.

Moving back to El Cerrito, Jerry and Doll enjoyed a rich retirement until Doll’s death in 2009. Jerry spent his golden years as the gentle, generous patriarch of a large extended family. His eternally youthful appearance, sly sense of humor, and noble presence were with him until the end.

In addition to Doll, Jerry was predeceased by Gerald in 1986. He is survived by Renetia (Joe), and Michael. Also living on are his grandchildren: Brittany (Mike), Courtney, and Michael, Jr. (Chantal); and one great-grandchild, Zahara.

There will be a Memorial Service for family and friends Monday, May 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St., Berkeley.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Gerald Sisler Martin, please visit our Tribute Store.