George Foreman passed away on March 21, 2025, at age 76. The boxing legend left behind a remarkable legacy, but standing beside him for nearly 40 years was his wife, Mary Joan Martelly. Their love story is one of unexpected meetings, blended families, and quiet devotion.
Here is everything to know about the woman behind the champion.
Early Life and Caribbean Roots
Mary Joan Martelly was born and raised on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, in the close-knit community of Mon Repos. She was the third girl among six sisters and two brothers, and her early life was marked by modest beginnings. Her father died when she was young, at just 44, leaving the family to face financial hardship. Martelly and her siblings took on odd jobs to support the household — she worked at a restaurant, a clothing factory, and later as a nanny.
During her youth, Martelly showed a keen interest in sports and cherished the continuity of her school days. “I loved sports in school. School was really fun, interestingly, ’cause you grew up with the same set of children from kindergarten all the way up to high school, so everyone knew everyone,” she recalled.
These early experiences shaped her character, instilling the resilience, hard work, and perseverance that would guide her throughout life.
A Fateful Meeting: From St. Lucia to the United States
Martelly came to the United States on a six-month temporary visa, traveling to Houston to testify on Foreman’s behalf during a custody dispute. At the time, she had no idea who he was. “I didn’t know anything about George’s career before,” she revealed in a 2014 interview with the University of Houston Law Center. “I’ve never seen him box before; I didn’t even know him as a boxer, but I helped him all through it.”
What started as a legal obligation blossomed into something far more profound. As her six-month visa neared its end, Foreman realized he could not let her go. “By the time my six months came, he was in love. He was like, ‘You can’t go back,'” she recalled.
The Surprise Proposal and 1985 Wedding
The proposal was as unassuming as their meeting. “We were going to the movies… and he says, ‘I’ll be right back,’ and he came back with a little ring, you could barely see the diamond, and he’s like, ‘Can you marry me?'” She admitted, “I didn’t know what to say, but I went, ‘Okay, yes.'”
They married in March 1985, following about a year of dating. It was Foreman’s fifth marriage — but it was his last, and by far his longest, marking a fresh start and the beginning of a new chapter for the couple.
Nearly 40 Years of Marriage: Behind the Scenes of a Legend
Martelly and Foreman were married for nearly 40 years, from 1985 until he died in 2025. She supported his improbable boxing comeback at age 38, when he returned to the ring after a decade-long hiatus and went on to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history at age 45. Martelly stood by him throughout that journey.
Foreman once spoke warmly about his wife in an interview with CBN.com: “Mary is a good wife. We call her Joan. But the best thing that happened to me was finding a good wife who understood that children are not just something you can have today and then say, ‘That was something that happened in the past.’ It’s an ever-present thing in your life, and it’s wonderful to have a wife to understand that.”
She remained incredibly private while he was a global celebrity. The public got a rare look at their family life in the 2008 TV Land series Family Foreman, which highlighted the heavyweight champ’s career and his role as a father.
Raising a Blended Family of 12 Children
Together, Foreman and Martelly built an extraordinary blended family. They had at least five biological children together — George IV, George V, George VI, Leola, and Natalie — and adopted two more, Isabella Brandie Lilja in 2009 and Courtney Isaac in 2012.
Martelly also stepped into the role of stepmother, helping raise Foreman’s children from previous relationships: daughters Michi, Freeda (who passed away in 2019), and Georgetta, along with sons George Jr. and George III. All of Foreman’s sons are named George Edward Foreman, a naming tradition that kept the family name alive across generations.
When talking about raising her children, Martelly shared her philosophy: “I had to raise my kids, and I wanted to be there for them, I wanted to be there to pick them up from school, and from A to Z.” In total, Foreman had 12 children, 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
The Brief History of George Foreman’s Previous Marriages
Before marrying Martelly, Foreman had been married four other times. His first marriage was to Adrienne Calhoun in 1971; they divorced in 1974. His second marriage, to Cynthia Lewis, lasted from 1977 to 1979. He then married Sharon Goodson in 1981, and the pair split after just one year. His fourth marriage, to Andrea Skeete, ran from 1982 until 1985 — the same year he wed Martelly.
The contrast is striking. His previous four marriages lasted a combined total of roughly 11 years, while his marriage to Martelly lasted nearly 40. She was different from the others: she didn’t know him as a boxer, and she loved him for who he was rather than what he had achieved.
Life in Texas: The Huffman Estate
The couple lived on an estate in Huffman, Texas, which they purchased in the early 2000s. Their dream home took nearly three years to complete and sits on 45 acres of land, with an estimated value of more than $10 million. The property features several buildings, including a main house of roughly 45,000 square feet that blends classic and modern design, a guesthouse, and a dedicated gym facility.
This sprawling estate became the heart of the Foreman family, hosting their 12 children, 15 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren over the years.
A Shared Mission of Giving Back
Over the years, Martelly and Foreman combined their efforts in numerous philanthropic endeavors, with a particular focus on children’s welfare and health initiatives. Their work took them from Houston to St. Lucia, where they spread information about pediatric AIDS and advocated for prevention measures. In recognition of their contributions, the couple was jointly honored in 2007 at an event called A World of Friends Fighting AIDS.
They also worked through the George Foreman Youth Center in Houston, supporting inner-city youth, healthcare, and education initiatives. Despite the recognition, Martelly remained humble about the work. As she told the University of Houston: “Usually we’d do something, and we wouldn’t tell anybody. My grandma always said, ‘If you want the blessing, then you don’t let the whole world know.'”
Saying Goodbye: George Foreman’s Death and Burial
Foreman died on March 21, 2025, at age 76. His family announced the news on Instagram: “Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.” The post included a photo of Foreman surrounded by his wife and children.
A memorial service was held for Foreman on April 14, 2025, at Houston’s Wortham Theater Center. In 2026, it was revealed that Foreman had been privately buried at Logan Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa — a choice tied to a trip he had taken to the area in the 1980s, when he fell in love with the landscape of the nearby Loess Hills. Martelly stood beside him until the very end.
Conclusion
Mary Joan Martelly’s story is one of resilience, devotion, and quiet grace. She entered George Foreman’s life as a stranger to his fame and remained by his side for nearly 40 years. She was never a celebrity spouse seeking attention — she was a partner, mother, and philanthropist who let her actions speak louder than words.
From the shores of St. Lucia to the sprawling Texas estate, she built a life centered on family and faith. She raised 12 children, supported a world champion’s comeback, and fought for children’s health, all without seeking the spotlight.
Foreman once called her a “good wife.” But she was much more than that — the anchor of the Foreman family, and the matriarch who held everything together.
Mary Joan Martelly survives her husband, George Foreman. She continues to live in Texas, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
