Sonequa Martin-Green, 39, tragically lost both her parents within a day of each other.
Key Takeaways
- Sonequa Martin-Green, the lead actor in the TV series “Star Trek: Discovery,” tragically lost both her parents within 24 hours of each other.
- Her father died after fighting liver cancer, while her mother, who had beaten cancer three times before, died from a heart attack the next day.
- Despite the deep emotional pain of losing her parents so close together, Sonequa has found strength in their memory and continues to inspire others with her courage.
The actress, popular for her role as Michael Burnham, the main character in the streaming television series “Star Trek: Discovery,” was first introduced to the series by her parents.
She said about her first experience, “I can remember seeing it on the television when I was a kid. I can remember watching my parents watch it. I never sat down to watch it, but I knew what it was.”
Her father, Charles Winston Martin, passed away on April 9, 2021, after a brave fight with liver cancer, while her mother, Vera Lynn Martin-Moore, died from a heart attack the next day.
Her parents divorced earlier in her life, and her mother remarried. She had one full sister, NaKisha, and three older half-sisters from her father’s side: Tichina (Kervin) Powers, Thoenicia Allen, and Chariclea (Antonio) Sims.
Charles, a Nation of Islam religious movement member, worked as a painter at a steel mill factory in Alabama.
He had five daughters and one son by three beautiful women, Wilma Butler, Jacqueline Lee, and Vera Freeman.
On the other hand, Vera Lynn Martin-Moore was a remarkable woman who had survived cancer three times.
Reflecting on her mother’s battle with cancer, Sonequa expressed admiration, saying, “She’s displayed so much power and so much grace going through this; it’s so inspiring. If I can do anything, if I can give her anything, I would.”
The loss of both parents within such a short time has been an immense emotional burden for Sonequa.
In a recent BET interview, the actress opened up about the passing of her parents and how it impacted her.
#BETTalks: During our conversation, Sonequa Martin-Green opened up about the passing of her parents and the impact it had on her. Expressing that she had a lot of support while on set, Sonequa shared how much community means to her. Sonequa, we love you, sis! 🤎 pic.twitter.com/99w8c8VcYl
— BET (@BET) April 19, 2024
She has learned to accept that “grief stays with you; it’s just part of you from that point forward.” In a podcast, she describes how she now sees her parents through her children.
In case You Didn’t Know
- The actress initially planned to be a psychologist but later decided to pursue a career in acting.
- She is a married woman who wedded fellow actor Kenric Green on December 4, 2010 and is a mom of two kids: son Kenric Justin III and daughter Saraiyah Chaunté.
- Martin-Green has been an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer since April 2016.
