Jerl Lynn Martin, 71, of 13 Westbrook Dr., Akron, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 30, 2025. She was born on January 26, 1954.

Jerl was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and dedicated her life to serving others. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life, and she was always ready to offer encouragement or a prayer to anyone in need. Jerl was an active and cherished member of the Ephrata Bible Fellowship Church, where she joyfully served as an AWANA worker for 20 years. In addition, she dedicated five years of service at the Salvation Army, where she felt privileged to lead children to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Jerl had a deep love for music and was frequently found listening to worship music while doing her daily devotions. Her favorite band was Casting Crowns, whom she was thrilled to see perform live several times.

A graduate of Coatesville High School, Jerl held several jobs before and after marriage. Before marrying the love of her life, Bruce Albert Martin, she worked at Pepperidge Farm in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. After marriage, she worked briefly at Panera Bread.

Jerl was a woman of many talents, particularly in the realm of crafts and art. She loved all forms of artistic expression and was extremely skilled in sewing, handcrafting cards, ceramics, beadwork, and painting. She took great pride in her achievements and enjoyed creating beautiful things for others. She also possessed a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh and make people laugh.

Jerl's favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Jerl and her husband, Bruce, found great comfort in the assurance of eternal life and wished to share the sentiment echoed by evangelist Dwight L. Moody: "Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all; out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal—a body that death cannot touch; that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like His glorious body." Jerl lived by this promise, and her family knows that, right now, she is more alive than ever in the presence of her Lord.

Jerl is survived by her loving husband, Bruce Albert Martin, and her two sons: Edward William Masterstefone III and his wife, Lynnea DeanZa Masterstefone, and her second son, Joseph-Jon Albert Martin. She is also survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Jerl leaves behind her brother, Joseph Shaffer Jr. and his wife, Eleanor, of Birdsboro, and her sisters, Jeanne Whiteman and JoAnne Hash, both of New Holland.

A celebration of Jerl's life will be held on November 29 starting at 11:00 AM at the Ephrata Bible Fellowship Church.

Ephrata Bible Fellowship Church Address: 491 Peach Road, Ephrata, PA 17522.