Martha Jo Hurley

A funeral service including Holy Eucharist will be held on Friday, January 24th, 10am CT, at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 3775 Crosshaven Drive, Vestavia, AL. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

If you would like to make an impact in memory of Martha Jo Hurley, please consider support of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church Pastoral Care Ministry or Camp McDowell Scholarship Fund.

Born in Enterprise, AL, Martha Jo lived in Birmingham most of her life. There she led an active life of engagement in her church, community, and family. For a long period, she helped manage and operate a business with her husband, HESCO (Hurley Engine Service Company). She accepted various leadership roles in her daughters’ schools, an auxiliary of car racers’ wives, and her beloved churches, including St John’s Episcopal Church, Ensley, AL, Christ Episcopal Church, Fairfield, AL, and most affectionately St Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Vestavia, AL.

A brilliant woman, Martha Jo chose to grow and challenge herself through various and non-traditional tracks. She joined a musical ensemble that taught her how to sing classical opera. She enrolled in cooking courses to learn French, Asian, and other cuisines. She took a college course in Accounting at UAB. And most recently, she enjoyed art classes and produced some lovely oil paintings.

Of her many gifts, we want to mention Martha Jo’s discernment. This was notably evident in her choosing Galleria Woods Senior Living, despite her husband’s resistance. And her gifts used in the care of others were evidenced in her pastoral care ministry at St Stephen’s, through Eucharistic visitation and the card guild.

Martha Jo was predeceased by her parents, Susanna Frances Roberts Tomberlin and Joseph (Joe) Seaborn Tomberlin, brother, Jimmy Cook Tomberlin, and half-brother, Hollis Larue Powell.

Martha Jo is survived by her husband of 63 years, Thomas Lee Hurley; daughters Beverly Hurley Hill (Derrick), Nauvoo, and Constance (Connie) Hurley Hancock (Mike), Hoover; grandchildren Bailey Craig Hill (Sydney), Fultondale, Olivia Hill Sheffield (Ley), Irondale, Alec Hancock (Christina), Alabaster, and Susanna Claire Teer, Auburn; and one great grandchild, Edward James Hill.