Anne S. Martin

Anne Simmons Martin, of Gardendale, Alabama, joined her heavenly Father on October 6, 2015, after a brief illness surrounded by loving family. Ms. Martin was born on May 20th, 1943, in Tupelo, Mississippi. Anne is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Lawrence W. Simmons and Annie Laurie Howell Simmons and her husband Roy L. Martin. She was Roy’s wife, best friend, and caregiver during a long illness. She was our definition of love and devotion through her love for him.

Anne graduated from Carbon Hill High School and attended Itawamba Junior College and Mississippi State University. She was a devoted employee of North Jefferson Baptist Association and a member of Gardendale First Baptist Church for many years. She was a loving mother and wife who put her family’s needs above her own. Anne was fiercely independent and lived in her own home until her passing as was her wish. She enjoyed dancing at weddings, family gatherings, laughing, watching major league baseball, and shopping excursions. She was classy, stylish and loyal to her loved ones.

Anne is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Laurie Martin Jackson and David Jackson of Round Rock, Texas, Julie Martin Robertson and Jeffery Robertson of Fultondale, Alabama, and Jennifer Martin Watson and Greg Watson of Kimberly, Alabama. She was a proud grandmother of three beautiful and smart granddaughters, Baily Robertson, MacKynzie Watson, and Kylie Watson who will miss their Nana. She is also survived by her brothers: John L. Simmons and his wife Sue Simmons, Michael C. Simmons and his wife Lynn Simmons, and her sister Janie Simmons Gilbert and her husband David W. Gilbert. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends. A special thanks to her niece, Susan Gilbert Crawford, of Mt. Olive, Alabama who was always just a phone call away to support her in her last years.

In late June Anne became ill after a family party and was transported by ambulance to the hospital. As she was being loaded into the ambulance, she took off her oxygen mask and said, “I stayed too long at the fair.” Her family believes she stayed for far too brief a time, but they rejoice knowing that Anne Simmons Martin is enjoying a heavenly midway paved in gold. We know she’ll eat cotton candy and shout from the top of the Ferris Wheel that she is waiting for us to join her.

Services to be held at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel on Thursday, October 8th, 2015. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm with a service at 2:00 p.m. Graveside to follow at Oakwood Memorial Garden in the Garden of the Good Shepherd.