Dawn Juanita Martin

08/21/1968 - 11/06/2025

Dawn Juanita Martin: A Beautiful Life, A Lasting Song

Dawn Juanita Martin, a beautiful Being who graced the world with her voice, spirit, and
love, passed away on November 6, 2025, leaving a legacy of warmth and song that will
forever echo in the hearts of those who knew her. Born at dawn on August 21, 1968, in
Colorado Springs, CO, the time of her birth seemed to foretell the bright, vibrant light
she would bring to every stage of her life.
From 1972 on, Dawn was lovingly raised for more than half the time by her devoted
paternal grandparents, Augustus “Gus” and Juanita Martin, who preceded her in death
along with her father and her maternal grandparents and some of the time by her
mother, Greta.
Dawn’s formative years were spent mostly in St. Louis, MO with her grandparents. But
with her mom and sister in Davenport, IA, and Louisville, KY. It was at her grandparents’
church in St. Louis where her passion for performance took root and she was able to
later hone as she attended the renowned Youth Performing Arts High School in
Louisville. Her dedication to her craft led her to Tarkio College in Tarkio, NE, after which
she made the pivotal move to Minneapolis, MN in the late 1980s to focus on her singing
career.
Minneapolis became the setting for her professional breakout. Dawn captivated
audiences with her powerful voice, starring in a production of Beehive that enjoyed a
successful six-year run. She was also a celebrated fixture in the gospel music scene,
notably lending her talent to the Minneapolis-based Darnell Davis and the Remnant in
the mid-1990s. Beyond the stage, Dawn served her community as a City of Minneapolis
bus driver.
In the early 2020s, Dawn returned to Louisville, KY to focus on a professional transition
focus, becoming a respected supervisor of UPS bus drivers at the UPS hub. In this later
chapter of her life, she found joy in the simplicity of gardening, spending time with her
youngest son and her sister’s family and the adventure of traveling. Her adventurous
spirit was most recently satisfied in 2024 with an extended trip to Yucatan, Mexico, with
Nate, and a memorable journey to New York City with Nate and Jahkeyrie.
Dawn was known and loved by many, characterized by a spirit that shone brightly in
everything she did.
She leaves behind the enduring love of her three sons, Jahkobi Martin-Senna, 28,
Jahkeyrie Martin-Senna, 26, and Nathan Vincent, 15, who were the center of her world.
She is also survived by her sister Tracy, her husband David, her cherished niece and
nephew Tallulah and Cato, and her mother, Greta.

Celebration of Life
Dawn Juanita Martin was a beautiful Being, and her light, laughter, and song will forever
live in the hearts of her family and friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11:00 am.
The service will take place in Phoenix, AZ, with details on the exact location to be
provided. For those who cannot attend in Arizona, the service will also be available to
join via Zoom. Further details regarding the location and Zoom access will be shared by
the family.