A matter of trust: Covering a remarkable funeral in the midst of the pandemic
By Jacquelyn Martin
Thousands upon thousands of funerals, many not related to COVID-19, are being held during the global pandemic. Washington photographer Jacquelyn Martin provided a very personal look at one of them. But first, she had to gain the trust of the family whose mother had died.
She spent weeks getting to know the woman’s son, who shared with Martin intimate details about his mother’s life – and how the family wanted to honor her in death. But their plans to bury Joanne Paylor, who had died of what appeared to be a heart attack on March 8, were interrupted by the pandemic. First the funeral home canceled; then they tried waiting out social-distancing rules so the 300 people they expected could attend. Finally, as Mother’s Day approached, the funeral home said it was time. Martin was there, poised with her camera and notebook, given extraordinary access to a family’s very private moment.
Iran “Bang” Paylor, left, is comforted by his friend, Jewel Parker, during an outdoor memorial service for his mother, Joanne Paylor, 62, at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. “My mother was a very giving, generous person. She believed in great strides for the African American community — single mothers in particular,” Iran said. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Family, including Iran “Bang” Paylor, far left, carry the casket of Paylor’s mother, Joanne Paylor, 62, to a horse-drawn hearse during her funeral at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Wearing sashes and tiaras, the kings and queens of Models Inc. are reflected in a horse-drawn hearse from as they pay their respects to Joanne Paylor, 62, of southwest Washington, during her funeral in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. Models Inc. is a community organization founded by Iran “Bang” Paylor that was supported by his mother Joanne. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Commemorative fans and wrist bands are joined by face masks in honor of Joanne Paylor, 62, during her funeral at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. Although Paylor died at home of an apparent heart attack, almost every aspect of funeral was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Models Inc. queens, including Jewel Parker, left, and Goldie Demetria, center, with Cougar Francis, a Models Inc. king, right, adjust their sashes and tiaras as they arrive for the viewing of Joanne Paylor, 62, of southwest Washington, at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. Models Inc. is a community organization founded Paylor’s son, Iran “Bang” Paylor, that was supported by his mother. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
With restrictions on the number of people who may attend the viewing at one time, eight of the grandchildren of Joanne Paylor, 62, prepare to enter the chapel together during Paylor’s funeral at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Iran “Bang” Paylor, left, is comforted as he mourns his mother during her viewing at the chapel at Cedar Hill Cemetery, in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. Despite not having died from the coronavirus, Joanne Paylor’s funeral was delayed for almost two months while her family waited for social distancing guidelines to be lifted. When it became clear that wouldn’t soon happen, they arranged a viewing with only 10 people cycling inside with social distancing. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Colletta Paylor mourns her mother, Joanne Paylor, 62, during her funeral at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
As a masked string quartet plays, funeral home administrator Dani Skinner, center, stands by to assist mourners at the viewing of Joanne Paylor, 62, during her funeral in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
With social distancing, mourners pay their respects during the viewing of Joanne Paylor, 62, inside the chapel at Cedar Hill Cemetery, in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Iran “Bang” Paylor clasps hands with two of his sisters as they walk in front of a horse-drawn hearse for their mother, Joanne Paylor, 62, during her funeral in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
The family of Joanne Paylor walks through Lincoln Memorial Cemetery for her interment ceremony, in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. From right are her children, Colletta Paylor, Iran “Bang” Paylor and LaShawn Paylor, followed by several of her grandchildren. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Mourners attend a socially distanced outdoor memorial service for Joanne Paylor, 62, during her funeral at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Amora, a grandchild of Joanne Paylor, holds a fan with her grandmother’s image on it during the outdoor memorial service for Paylor at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. Guests were seated in golden chairs with social distancing across the lawn. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
During a socially distanced outdoor memorial service, dancers EbonyTye Hamilton and Samaree Lawson perform as the family of Joanne Paylor, 62, mourns for the family matriarch at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Sasha Kayla, a queen with Models Inc., wears a sash, tiara and face mask that says “essential” as she attends the memorial service for Joanne Paylor, 62, at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Surrounded by mourners masked to protect against the coronavirus, Iran “Bang” Paylor is comforted during the interment service of his mother, Joanne Paylor, 62, at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
Grandchildren of Joanne Paylor react as doves are released by funeral home administrator Dani Skinner during the interment ceremony for Paylor at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland-Silver Hill, Md., May 3, 2020. – AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin
“Beautiful images shown with so much dignity,” one person wrote to her on Instagram. In a moving story to accompany the photos, Martin also captured the essence of the funeral and the family’s grief – and its celebration of a life:
Many women wore tiaras,and men sported crisp white suits. There were turquoise face masks reading “Joanne.” And the voice of Joanne herself echoed over the loudspeakers: “I love y’all,” a remnant of a voicemail she once left her son.
Among the emails that Martin received was this one: “What a rare look into a family’s most private moments. The quality I see most is trust. You made a connection with the Paylor clan and they gave you themselves.”
Martin has been providing extensive coverage of the coronavirus’s impact on people and neighborhoods that aren’t often reported on. One source has led to another,one story to the next,fostered by her empathy with her sources and subjects. In this case,she was put in contact with the family and realized by the end of their first meeting that there was a really special story here and that she wanted to photograph it – and write it.
For her heartfelt account and elegant images, Jacquelyn Martin receives AP’s Best of the Week honors.
