Baltimore Jewish community members are showing support for a beloved food service worker in the area’s kosher community after she suffered a minor stroke.
Regulars at the Knish Shop in Pikesville or Accents Grill in Baltimore are sure to be familiar with Martha Morton, who has spent her entire adult life working in kosher restaurants and delivering her own kind-hearted brand of customer service. Now, some of the people she has served are giving back by offering her assistance while she recovers from a stroke she had in December of 2022.
Originally from South Carolina, Morton, now 68, started working at the Knish Shop when she was 19. She was far from the only member of her family to work there: Her sisters, brother, son and nephews and nieces have all worked at the Knish Shop at some point.
“It’s a bit of a family affair,” she quipped.
Morton started as part of the clean-up staff before becoming the assistant cook, then the cook and finally the shop manager. She worked at the business for 38 years and was a constant friendly face to the customers who came in to order sandwiches, fish and, of course, knishes.
“I love the customers, I love the people,” Morton said. “I’ve always liked cooking and making different types of food, and kosher food is exciting. It’s a lot different from what I make at home, and I’ve loved learning about it.”
While not Jewish herself, Morton grew up surrounded by the Jewish community in South Carolina and Baltimore, having worked in Jewish businesses from a young age.
“I’ve always gotten along well with Jewish people,” she recalled. “They’re honest, and they speak their minds. And they’re very welcoming. I’ve rarely ever had a problem with a Jewish customer.”
Morton only left the Knish Shop when her then-coworker, Larry Franks, decided to start his own business. When he opened Accents Grill with his wife Lara, Morton went to work for the couple.
“She’s the nicest, warmest, most loving person you will ever find,” said Lara Franks, one of Accents Grill’s owners. “People kept coming back to the places she worked because they wanted to be taken care of by her.”
In addition to waiting tables and cooking food, Morton often assisted with families’ preparations for Jewish holiday dinners.
“It was a special part of their week, coming to purchase Shabbat food and having Miss Martha take care of them,” Lara Franks added.
In December of last year, a sudden stroke forced Morton into retirement. She has been recovering at home since then, and members of the local community have come together to help her in the meanwhile.
Lara and Larry Franks have started collecting messages and gifts for Morton, helping to support her during this difficult time.
“There’s been an overwhelming outpouring of love, support and retirement gifts conveyed to her through Accents Grill,” Lara Franks said. “It’s very moving, the amount of support she’s received from the Jewish community because of her years of dedicated service.”
“It made me cry, for people to be so kind and considerate,” said Morton of how she felt about the support she has been receiving.
When she fully recovers, Morton plans to spend her retirement trying to catch up on her exercise and Bible study. She noted that her doctor theorized that her stroke may have been caused by high blood pressure, and that it is more important than ever for her to stay active.
“I’m trying to get there. When you get older, you have to keep yourself healthy,” she noted.
“I just want to thank everyone for what they’re doing and for what they’ve done for me,” Morton said. “And I thank God for each and every one of them. I want to thank them for the things they are doing and let them know I love them very much. God bless them.”
