Obituary of Martha B. McDaniel

Remembering Martha; a tribute on behalf of the family - from Kori McDaniel Dec. 28, 2023 my Grandmother passed on at her home in Toms River. Martha Edith McDaniel (formally Bragger) was born January 1, 1928 in Philadelphia PA. At 3 years old she moved to what she affectionately called her hometown Nutley, NJ, where she grew up during The Depression followed by a time of Victory Gardens with a small town feel. She became a graduate of Nutley High School and she routinely attended class reunions through the late ‘90s and early 2000s. She had such delight keeping in touch with her former classmates throughout the years. She is one of 6 children predeceased by her oldest sister Frances Bragger, sister Helen Kirk, sister Kathrine Lewis and a younger brother Edgar Bragger. She regularly spent summers at my Great-great grandparents home in Island Heights and routinely mentioned her disapproval of the addition a later home owner added to the house. Eventually, the family moved to Toms River some time in the 50s. She met my Grandpop and started a family. She held many jobs over the years, but her last and most notable was being a bus driver for Toms River Schools. She said that her best day on that job was the day I was born. The dispatcher announced on the radio that she was a 1st time Grandmom and that it was a girl. By all accounts she was beaming for the rest of the day as she drove “her children” home. She knew her way around a Singer as she was the costume designer my brother and I for every Halloween. Usually late summer I had to pick out what I was going to be and we’d go to The Rag Shop to pick out patterns and fabric. She also was great at knitting and crocheting. In retirement she was involved in a group that made baby hats and blankets for Community Medical Center. She also was a member of the Sandpiper Club and painted many beautiful wooden pieces over the years. I’ll best remember her as an avid bird watcher. Lover of plants and trees. Jeopardy and soap opera watcher. But her legacy lies in her cheesecake. What has somehow over the decades become an every holiday dessert tradition, her cheesecake is legendary. I took over the holiday cheesecake baking a decade ago. We made cheesecake a few times together before I took over the operation, and each time I make it I think about those times. So without further ado, I present to you the world’s greatest cheesecake recipe in her own writing (To read or print the complete recipe, please click on the Tribute Wall tab to the left of the obituary). Rest in peace Grandmom ❤ Martha was predeceased by her parents Frances and Henry Bragger, and her husband Albert McDaniel Sr. She is survived by her sister Alayne McGuire, her sons Albert Jr (Tina) and Kirk. She has two Grand Children Koren and Michael (Courtney) and two Great Grand Children John and Sadie. A small interment ceremony will be held April 6 at 11:00 AM, Riverside Cemetery Toms River.