Martha was born January 29, 1932 in Weir, MS to Alvin E. and Vivian Moore Reed.
After graduation from Weir High School, Martha married E. Wayne Black, also of Weir, MS on July 30, 1950. Shortly after, they moved to Jackson, MS and Martha went to work at Baptist Hospital in Administration where she worked for 38 years.
After the death of her husband in 1980, Martha continued working and raising her 2 youngest children. Martha married Hilton D. Whitmire, an old high school friend and her insurance agent on February 1, 1991. Several years later, they moved to the Panhandle Community of Choctaw County where they remained until 2017. While in Choctaw County, she was active in the Moving On Back Club, the Ladies Card Playing Club and volunteered at French Camp. She and Hilton fed half the county with their bountiful garden. The couple moved to Madison County, MS to live with her children. Martha was an active member of Alta Woods Presbyterian Church and in later years a member of Madison Heights Church, PCA. Martha used her spiritual gift of hospitality by hosting friends, family and even strangers. She loved to cook and make others feel special by showing up with their favorite dessert. While her children were growing up, her home was the gathering place for all the neighborhood kids. Martha was affectionately known as Meemaw to all her family.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents and her husbands, E. Wayne Black and Hilton D. Whitmire. She is survived by her brother John Reed (Martha) of Oxford, 4 children: Mitchell Black (Dean) of Madison, Jan Smith Howell (Skip) of Pearl, Susan Black Patterson (Rob) of Madison and Douglas Black of Pearl. Stepdaughters: Tammy King, Terri Henderson (Randolph), and Tara Hanks (Wade). Martha leaves behind grandchildren: Barrett R. Smith (Amy), T. Wayne Black (Sally), Sara C. Black and Benjamin Black (Courtney) and great-grandchildren: Addie Grace, Sadie, Sophie, Ely Reed and Miller, and many nieces & nephews.
Visitation for Martha will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home Monday, March 22 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Services will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel Tuesday, March 23 at 2:00pm with visitation at 1:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Lakewood Memorial Park. The funeral service will be streamed via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/LakewoodMemorial/
The family would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Terrie Ingram and Christine McDougle for tirelessly sitting with and caring for our mother for the past two years. These two dependable, trustworthy women loved 'Miz Martha' deeply and have become forever members of our family.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to French Camp Academy, 1 Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745.
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