Photo provided to The Eastsider by Douglas W Jacobs
It is hard to remember Martha Benedict without seeing her holding a camera. And smiling.
For almost two decades, Martha was my bridge, introducing me to people and institutions of Northeast Los Angeles, including Jesus Sanchez and the newly formed Eastsider L.A.
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Martha and I joined forces on community events and creative projects. Visiting Elmer Long and his Bottle Tree Ranch in the Mojave Desert, we spent the three-hour drive laughing and sharing stories. Time just flew by.
Martha’s photos captured the spirit of life, but her spirit could never be captured. You had to experience it. — Brenda Rees
Honoring the Legacy of Martha Benedict
A beloved resident of Montecito Heights, Martha Frances Benedict passed away on January 22, 2026. She was 74 years old.
A memorial service is scheduled for 6 pm on Feb 20th at the Four Square Church, 4328 N. Figueroa in Sycamore Grove. The public is welcome to attend.
Revered for her honesty, diplomacy and energetic charm, Martha took on many roles: designer, supporter, volunteer and voice of Northeast Los Angeles.
Martha also had a keen photographic eye. For close to two decades, she documented the history of the Arroyo, from preschool graduations at La Casita Verde to beautiful sunsets. Her photographic work graced many publications, and she produced countless images for the Huntington Library and Gardens, Descanso Gardens, the Pacific Opera Project and the Eastsider LA.
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Martha was born June 19, 1951, in Los Angeles. She graduated from UCLA in 1976 and later attended the University of Pennsylvania to study English literature and English and Latin linguistics.
Early on, Martha was a graphics/layout designer and copy editor at various newspapers and advertising agencies. She was vice president of a graphics bureau and print services company until 1998; she formed her own graphic studio in 1999.
Martha possessed an unstoppable energy for civic engagement.
One of her more successful ventures was being part of a core group that convinced Supervisor Gloria Molina to grant funds to acquire Flat Top Park. Martha served as vice president and treasurer of the Montecito Heights Improvement Association until her passing.
Martha served in many organizations: the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, the Ernest E. Debs Park Advisory Board, the La Casita Verde Preschool, the Historic Highland Park Heritage Trust, Highland Park Ebell Club, and the Audubon Center at Debs Park.
Martha is survived by her cousin, Nancy Bennett. She was preceded in death by her mother, Frances, her father, Walter, and her sister, Laura. Her great grandfather, Edson A. Benedict, had a large apiary in what is now Benedict Canyon, for which it is named.
Martha leaves a legacy of kindness, dedication, and civic involvement among the thousands of photographic images. Martha’s license plate summed up her life in the communities she loved. She was indeed “Martha ⭐.”
In her Facebook page, a photo Martha posted on herself as a teenager in the 1960s.
Photographer unknown
A GoFundMe has been established to help with the costs of the memorial service.
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