Martha Zachry Thwaite

Born in Waycross, GA, she was the daughter of the late Lila Bunn Zachry and Robert Bernard Zachry of Waycross.

Martha was a graduate of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. In 1942 while on a double date to a swimming meet at Wesleyan, Martha met Charles Edward Thwaite of Macon, Georgia. Charlie, an astute Georgia Tech grad and rising star at Trust Company Bank, knew a good thing when he saw one so he asked Martha for a date. Charlie was organizing a new anti-aircraft battalion at Ft. Totten, NY, so in the imperturbable manner in which she lived her life, Martha accepted the fact that Charlie would soon be shipped overseas. Charlie’s newly–wed brother invited Martha to New York for a visit; in his brother’s New York apartment, Charlie proposed. Due to the war and their seven year age difference, the couple was eager to start a family. They welcomed Charles Edward Thwaite III in 1943 before Charlie left the United States for overseas duty. Five more children followed, the sixth born December 9, 1963 when Martha was forty-five and the love of her life was six weeks away from the massive heart attack which claimed him.

Due to Charles’s affiliation with Trust Company of Georgia, now Suntrust Bank, Martha lived in Augusta, Columbus, and Atlanta, Georgia where she not only made her own friends but supported and augmented her husband’s career with her gracious personable style. After Charlie’s death, Martha rose to the occasion and became the focal point of her family and the anchor for future generations.

As a young bride, Martha joined the Junior League. She joined Northside Methodist Church in 1957 where she volunteered for many activities such as Meals on Wheels and where she was an active member of the Fellowship Sunday School class and United Methodist Women. Martha served on the Board of Trustees of Pace Academy and was a Life Trustee of Pace. She was an active member of the Wayside Garden Club and the Monday Morning Book Club. Always a leader and eager to do her part, Martha served as President of the Resident Association at St. Anne’s Terrace from 2012-2013 where she once again showed the spunk for which she was known.

The consummate wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Martha was also a sports fan. She loved the Atlanta Braves and never missed an opportunity to see or listen to a Braves game. She happily attended games when invited.

Since childhood, she enjoyed visits to Dover Bluff, the hunting and fishing club on the Georgia coast which was co-founded by her father. Martha graciously entertained her family and friends at her cottage there and made it available to her children and their families and friends, all of whom love it as much as she did. In later years, Martha loaded up her bridge-buddies, their walkers, and food for an army, and drove to her cottage where they enjoyed the peace of the river and the pleasure of friendship. Martha welcomed in the New Year there four short weeks ago with family members. She even joined in the dancing in the living room.

Martha is survived by six children, twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, including: Charles Edward Thwaite (Betsy), Robert Zachry Thwaite (Mary Jane), Martha Thwaite Weeks (Steve), James Godwin Thwaite (Gina), Lila Thwaite McAlpin (Kirk), Walter Gainey Thwaite; grandchildren Emily Thwaite Farmer and sister Libby Thwaite Browne, Laura Thwaite and brother Zach Thwaite, James Thwaite and brother Thomas Thwaite, Lila McAlpin Retnasaba and brothers Kirk Martin McAlpin, Charles Thwaite McAlpin, Henry Champion McAlpin, and Walter Gainey Thwaite III and John Taylor Thwaite; great grandchildren Emily Carole Farmer, Robert Marion Farmer III, John William Farmer, and Clark Clayton Brown, Charles Thwaite Browne, Martha Rose Brown, and Rahda Rose Retnasaba.

There will be a family graveside service Friday, January 31 and a Memorial Service at 3:00 P.M. Friday at Northside Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30305.

A reception at Northside Methodist follows the service. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.