Martha Dean Arnold

Martha was born in Fredericksburg, VA., briefly lived in Richmond, VA., and came to Raleigh at the age of 13. She was a graduate of Needham B. Broughton High School, class of 1955. She continued her education at Meredith College, Appalachian State Teachers College, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied and majored in special education and administration.

Martha worked for approximately 10 years as a special education teacher with the Wake County Public School System. She was also a talented musician, and for many years was heavily involved in the music ministry of Hayes Barton Baptist Church, including directing the HBBC School of Music. While working with the HBBC Chancel Choir in 1980, she met John Arnold; a retired US Army Lt. Col. who owned a family farm in Northern Wake County. They married in 1982 and lived out her life there with John, in the house she designed and he built for her.

Surviving is her husband of 33 years, John M. Arnold; her son, John A. Brockwell, Jr. and wife, Deirdre of Burlington, NC; a step-son, John Arnold, Jr. of Wichita Falls, TX; three grandchildren, Sean and Patrick Brandt, and Lindsay Arnold; a sister, Mary Frances Vest of Richmond, VA; a brother, William Bruce Dean of Gainesville, GA; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Martha Arnold will be held at 11am on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27608.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St. , Raleigh, NC.