Opinion: Portales city clerk: A legacy of love

Most people knew Joan Martinez-Terry as the longtime, dedicated, hard-working Portales city clerk. I did, too. But above all else, she became one of my first real friends when I moved to Portales many years ago.

When I started as city editor for the Portales News-Tribune in June 1991, she was working across the street at Portales City Hall.

I attended every Portales City Council meeting and she did, too.

I learned fast that she was the go-to person for any questions about Portales. I saw firsthand her tireless public service and consistent hard work for the city.

At the same time, she remained modest and humble, working constantly behind the scenes and rarely the center of attention.

One memorable night, I discovered I didn’t know my friend and colleague as well as I thought. That’s when I saw Joan and her husband Ray riding motorcycles. I discovered they were avid riders who even enjoyed going to big gatherings of motorcyclists together.

Joan always got a twinkle in her eye and a big grin on her face when she spoke about their passion for riding motorcycles together.

We always shared a chuckle over the night I learned our hard-working city clerk also loved adventure and having fun in life.

Joan lost Ray in 2007, but she carried on her life and career with determination, courage and faith.

During my last several years living in Portales, once again I simply had to walk across the street to find Joan. This time she and her son Manuel were my neighbors. As my faithful friend, she was always offering a kind word of encouragement, always supportive and always cheering me and others on in life.

She was a strong woman with a strong faith in God and I always felt better knowing she was praying for me.

When I left Portales last August to travel for one year across Scotland and Europe, Joan loved seeing my photos and hearing my stories.

When I sent her photos of my visit to a beautiful Catholic church in Rouen, France, called L’Église Sainte-Jeanne d’Arc -- dedicated to Saint Joan of Arc --- Joan was so happy, recalling that her dad told her Joan of Arc was her patron saint and namesake.

She loved seeing my photos of all the magnificent wildflowers blooming this springtime in Scotland. She called them “God’s paintbrushes.”

She also sent me beautiful photos from Portales. She loved watching the Land of Enchantment’s glorious sunrises, sunsets and the rainbows that often would fill the sky after an eastern New Mexico thunderstorm.

Joan continued to see the beauty in the world even while she was suffering.

She held onto her strong faith as well, and even from her hospital room, she never stopped praying for me and encouraging me and her other friends and family.

For herself, Joan said she was “praying for God’s grace.”

Joan loved life even with its challenges. She left us on Friday. Portales will never be the same without her.

I will miss her prayers, her encouragement, her kindness, her regular messages and sharing our beautiful photos showing God’s creative wonders in the world.

Godspeed, Joan. Thank you for your lifetime of public service and your legacy of love and kindness.

Janet Lyn Bresenham is a writer, photographer and singer.