Joretta Jean Briney-Martin

Joretta Jean Briney-Martin: September 29, 1931 — March 8, 2026

WOODLAND- Joretta Jean Briney-Martin, a beloved wife, mother, missionary, and devoted community advocate, passed away on March 8, 2026, in Woodland, Washington. Born on September 29, 1931, in Mill City, Oregon, Joretta’s life was marked by a deep commitment to her faith, family, and service to others that left a lasting impact on all who knew her.

Joretta graduated from RA Long High School in Longview, Washington, and furthered her education at Northwest Christian College and Lower Columbia College (LCC). Her rich educational journey complemented an active and purposeful life dedicated to supporting her community and church. An active member of both Father’s House and First Christian Church, Joretta’s faith was integral to her identity. Throughout her life, she embraced roles that reflected her generous spirit and tireless compassion.

Her proudest accomplishments spoke to her multifaceted dedication: as a loving wife and mother, a missionary for Youth with a Mission, and a passionate advocate for the elderly serving as an Ombudsman. She was also known for her time as a camp cook for both the YMCA and Girl Scout camps and as a playground attendant at Robert Gray Elementary School, roles that highlighted her caring nature and commitment to shaping positive environments for young people. Additionally, Joretta found joy and camaraderie as a longtime member of the St. Helen’s Hiking Club, enjoying the beauty of nature and the friendships formed along the trails.

Joretta’s family and friends remember her warmly. She is survived by her sons, Bill Briney and Dan Briney, as well as her stepsons, Joe Martin and Mike Martin, who cherish her memory and the profound influence she had on their lives.

Inurnment services will be held on April 1, 2026, from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Longview Memorial Park, located at 5050 Mt. Solo Road in Longview, Washington. Following this, a Celebration of Life gathering will take place on June 6, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Father’s House, 1228 Washington Way, Longview, Washington, providing a time to honor Joretta’s life, her faith, and the enduring legacy she leaves behind.

Joretta Jean Briney-Martin’s life was a beacon of dedication, kindness, and unwavering faith. Her passing leaves a profound void but also a rich heritage of love and service that will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

From a family friend:

Eulogy of a True Angel: Mama JJ, as I fondly called her!

To me and my family, and all whose lives she touched–today we gather ourselves, not just to mourn, but to celebrate a woman who was more than a friend to many; she was a mother in spirit, a beacon of love that reached far and wide.

I first met Mama JJ in 1995 during her missionary days in Cyprus with Youth with a Mission. There, amid the island’s ancient stones, she ignited a spark in me–I was a young forestry student and Mama JJ was eager to share her faith and love for God to, not only me, but to many of my colleagues of different nationalities.

Together, we embarked on a program to begin the distribution of Bibles to my fellow students, planting seeds of hope that still grow today.

Her passion wasn’t feeling, it was a lifelong fire.

When she retired, Mama JJ did not fade into quiet days. Instead, she extended an invitation that changed my world: “Come to the United States.”

Without her, I would never have stepped on American soil. I stayed in her beautiful home, surrounded by warmth, stories, and the kind of hospitality that feels like family.

She was later to visit me and blessed my humble home in Zambia with a full month of her presence.

She walked Zambia’s red earth, visiting vulnerable communities and women, and from those encounters, she founded the Zambia Project in 2009– a thriving legacy of empowerment that endures to this day.

Mama JJ bridged continents with her heart. She turned strangers into family, missions into movements, and visits into lifelong bonds. Without her, my path to the U.S., my work in Zambia, and countless lives touched by the Zambia Project would not exist. She was a missionary, a mother, a maker of miracles.

As my family and the many lives she touched bid her farewell, may God receive this angel into his arms.

Her light shines on in every Bible shared, every home opened, every project thriving.

Thank you, Mama JJ for showing us how to live with open hands and boundless love. Rest in eternal peace.

To God be the glory!