Martha Gwendolyn Hicks Dockery

Martha Gwendolyn Hicks Dockery, 76, passed away Sunday, January 28, 2024 at Limestone Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Athens, Alabama. Martha was born to Gwendolyn Ann (Gross) and Curtis Alden Hicks on May 16, 1947 in Athens, Alabama.

Growing up, Martha studied hard and went to many piano and dancing lessons each week, as well as church activities. It was soon evident that Martha had a gift for the piano.

After graduating from Athens High School in 1965, Martha began an intense college career at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, where she was a piano performance major. She graduated in 1969 and later received her masters at Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama. After graduating in 1969, Martha began teaching private piano in Athens, Alabama. She later began her teaching career at Cowart Elementary, where she taught second graders for almost 30 years. Music and children were the perfect combination for her.

In 1974, Martha married the love of her life, Michael James Dockery, and they were married 40 years.

In addition to teaching school each day, Martha also taught private piano lessons at home.

Martha was a life-long member of Athens First Methodist Church where she also shared her gift of music by singing in the children and youth choirs and later playing the piano for Sunday School classes. She especially enjoyed touring with the “Merry Notes”, a group who sang and danced for seniors all over Athens.

During her lifetime, Martha loved and collected many beautiful things, including dolls, Santas, children’s books, baskets, seasonal decorations and TENNIS SHOES! She also loved everything Irish and was a self-proclaimed Leprechaun due to her short statue.

Martha was a proud member of Daughters of American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and The National Society Colonials Dames XVII Century.

Preceded in death are Martha’s parents, Gwendolyn (Gross) and Curtis Hicks, her beloved husband, Michael James Dockery, older sister and husband, Molly Ann (Hicks) and Dr. John T. Hagood, Eufaula, Alabama.

Martha is survived by one sister, Patsy Jane Hicks Johnson (William Herman), Athens, Alabama; nephews, William Herman Johnson Jr. Salem, Oregon; Curtis D. Johnson, Aurora, Illinois; John Patrick Hagood (Jenny) Montgomery, Alabama and Dr. Thomas Lanier Hagood (Kristi), Fairhope, Alabama; Christen Clegg, Atlanta, Georgia and Cuyler Beall, Atlanta, Georgia. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Donna Dockery Clegg, Atlanta, Georgia, and Mother-in-law, Willa Dockery, Decatur, Alabama. Martha also has many great nieces and nephews: Abigail Stewart Hagood, Orlando, Florida; Molly Katherine Hagood, Fairhope, Alabama; Thomas Lanier Hagood, Jr., Fairhope, Alabama; William Herman Johnson III, Salem, Oregon; Dakota Matthew Johnson, Salem, Oregon.

The family appreciates the care and comfort Limestone Nursing and Rehabilitation Center provided for Martha for many years. Also, many thanks to Preferred Hospice of Florence, Alabama for the overseeing of her comfort in the final days.

The funeral for Martha will be held Saturday, February 10th at Athens First Methodist Church with visitation beginning at 1:00 and service at 2:00. Burial will follow at Athens City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following: “Special Music Fund” at Athens First Methodist Church, Box 978, Athens, Alabama 35612, any animal shelter or charity of your choice.