Martin A. Berisford Jr.

The Rev. Martin A. Berisford Jr., 89, passed away on June 22, 2026, surrounded by the love of family, friends, and the community he built. He was born on Easter Day, March 28, 1937 in Clarksburg, WV, to Andy and Florence Berisford, and in 1960, Martin married the love of his life, Sandra Turner. Their nearly 66 years of marriage was centered around family, faith, service, and a love for others. 

After graduating from West Virginia University, Martin answered God’s call to ministry. He served nine United Methodist congregations throughout West Virginia before retiring in 1999. Martin was a storyteller at heart. His stories were often colorful, a bit eccentric, carried a lesson or two, and he could never resist throwing in a good joke. 

Martin’s faith was lived through action. He had a remarkable way of remembering the little details about people and had a knack for knowing when someone needed extra love; a homemade loaf of bread might appear at your door, a handwritten card might arrive in the mail, or he’d drop off a prayer shawl that he knitted just for you. That same compassion led him to spend countless hours in prison ministry, including a decades-long friendship with a man on death row. 

He was never one to sit idle. Martin loved taking long walks and often returned home with a treasure he spotted along the way. He collected stamps, knitted, cross-stitched, read thousands of books, and sewed with remarkable skill. He even made dresses for his daughters to wear to proms and weddings. Martin loved the beauty of the world. He enjoyed watching butterflies and birds, taking trips to Rehoboth Beach, and spending time in the quiet beauty of Dolly Sods. He remained a loyal West Virginia Mountaineer fan throughout his life and never lost his pride for his home state. 

Martin loved simple pleasures. A West Virginia chili dog, lemon meringue pie, his grandmother’s blackberry cake with extra icing, Morgan spaghetti, and gravy on just about anything. If he enjoyed something, he was likely to declare it “the greatest thing I’ve ever had.”

Of all the roles he held, his favorite was Grampa. He was a constant presence in the lives of his grandchildren and he rarely missed a baseball game, swim meet, lacrosse game, track meet, or special event. Showing up because being there mattered to him.

Martin is survived by his loving wife, Sandra Berisford; his children Andy Berisford (Bruce Hatrak), Emily Daniel, and Meg Morgan (Perry); his grandchildren Ashley Morgan (Tony Tompkins), PJ Morgan (Alyssa), Kirill Daniel, and Alla Daniel; his great-grandchildren, Isla Daniel, Yuri Daniel, and another great-grandchild arriving soon; and people he cared for deeply Henry “Brad” Bradley, and Nino, Concetta, and AJ LoVerso. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andy and Florence Berisford; his son-in-law, Walter Linwood “Lin” Daniel; and his beloved dog, Teddy. 

The family would like to thank the Inn at Library Way and Care 360 Hospice for the dedicated and personal care given to Martin in his final days.

Martin’s life was measured not by his accomplishments, but by the people he loved and the lives he touched. He often said that thistles were his favorite flower because most people saw only the prickly exterior, but Martin saw the beauty underneath. In many ways, that was how he viewed people. He looked beyond first impressions and believed everyone deserved kindness, acceptance, and grace.

In respect of Martin’s wishes, there will not be a formal service. Instead, as Martin’s next birthday falls on Easter Day 2027, the family will celebrate his life privately then. In lieu of flowers his family asks that you kindly make a donation in Martin’s name to the Hilliard Food Pantry, the Innocence Project, or another organization that serves your community. 

The family takes comfort in knowing that Martin’s life will live on in all who knew him. And if he were here, he would leave us with the words he shared so often: “you be good to you.”