Catherine Lee Rochelle Martin

Catherine Lee Rochelle Martin, 90, died peacefully Thursday, February 26, 2015, at Asbury Care Center at the Aldersgate United Methodist Retirement Community in Charlotte, NC. She was born February 11, 1925, in Pender County near Harrison’s Creek to Thomas Tate Rochelle and Lena Elester “Lessie” Morgan Rochelle. She was married September 8, 1950, to Chester Arthur Martin, Jr., who died January 7, 2005.

Mrs. Martin is survived by her son, Chester A. Martin, III, and wife, Mary B. Martin of Charlotte; daughter, Cathy L. Martin, of Durham, NC, and son, Charles R. Martin, and wife, Tamara L. Martin, of Gainesville, FL. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Karey B. Marren (husband Brad Marren), Emily R. Martin, and Alex N. Martin; and by several nieces and nephews and their children. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings Mildred Rochelle, Roger Penton Rochelle, Geneva Rochelle Precour, Russell Horace Rochelle, Jeannette Rochelle Horne, and Thurman T. Rochelle, and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Martin was raised in the Wilmington area and graduated from New Hanover High School. She moved to Charlotte in her twenties to work as an executive secretary at Terrell Machine Company and for Carolina Rim and Wheel and it was in Charlotte that she met Chester and began raising her family. She spent many youthful days at Wrightsville Beach (a family favorite once she had children) and loved the beach her entire life. She and Chester owned a house on Lake Wateree, SC, for many years, where they enjoyed fishing, boating and spending time with their family.

Mrs. Martin’s many interests included reading, cooking, music, traveling and gardening. She was well-known for her lovely meals, especially at holidays, and with her beautiful voice did some of her best cooking while singing in the kitchen. Her flower gardens were the talk of the neighborhood and her vegetable garden was amazing, with enough tomatoes, okra and beans to keep the neighbors supplied and plenty left over for canning. She was a most generous person whose smile could light up a room. We will miss her.

The family thanks Mrs. Martin’s caregivers at Asbury Care Center at Aldersgate for their attentive and sensitive care during the last year and half of her life. We knew she was in loving hands. The family is also grateful to staff at Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte for their support.

Memorials may be made to the Aldersgate Financial Assistance Fund, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28215.

Mrs. Martin will be cremated and remembered at a private service at Avondale Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.

Condolences to the family may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.