Martha Elizabeth Gray

Martha Gray, a lifelong resident of Cartersville and Rome, Georgia, died on February 3, 2014. She was born in Sylvester, Georgia, October 5, 1926 to parents Lucile and Bafton Floyd. She was raised in Floyd County, Georgia, by her Grandmother Loyd and Aunt Florence Crozier.

She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Willard A. Gray, an infant son, Douglas A. Gray, and three brothers, Hugh Floyd, David Floyd, and Charles Floyd.

Martha is survived by three daughters: Dawn Gray, Debbo Gray, and Sunny Carver; son-in-law, Douglas Carver; five grand-daughters: Brooke Christmas and husband, Britt; Jesse Williams-Hines and husband, Gabe; Laura Fulmer and husband, Matt; Gillam Campbell and Carolyn Williams; and five great-grandchildren: Aidan Christmas, Lorelai Christmas, Willa Hines, Madeline Fulmer and Maddox “Dougie” Fulmer.

During her long and rich life, Martha traveled all over the United States and several countries in Europe, visiting her children and grandchildren. In the early sixties, she drove her daughters and their friends to Panama City Beach each summer. Instead of eating in restaurants, Martha would make spaghetti in their motel room. She seemed to always have enough food to feed the additional teenagers who showed up at dinner time.

Martha was an active member of Sam Jones Methodist Church in Cartersville for over 50 years. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, and handled various leadership roles. She was a lifelong learner. While living in San Francisco in 1944, she took classes at Berkley University. In her fifties, she attended classes at Kennesaw College. She was such a competent note-taker, that her history teacher, J.B. Tate, borrowed her notes so he could organize his lectures and create exams.

She was an avid gardener, to say the least. Martha grew gorgeous peonies and tasty vegetables. Anyone who was fortunate to sit at her table was blessed with the best fried okra in the world. She could generally be found sitting on the ground in her garden, mulching and weeding. She told her children that she loved having dirt under her fingernails. Martha’s other interests included taking numerous road trips, golfing, sewing, quilting, and playing Rook and rolling dice with her family. Martha and her husband, Willard, were passionate about big band music. They loved to “cut a rug” to Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. They cherished porch time with their family listening to Willie Nelson.

Martha spent her final year at Star Manor Personal Care Home in Cartersville, where she joined a community of loving caregivers and residents. Her family will be eternally grateful for the love and care she received.

She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her creativity, energy and love of adventure inspired everyone around her. There was absolutely nothing that she could not do. Simply put, Martha Gray was a force of nature. She will be missed and celebrated by all who knew her.

A memorial Service for Mrs. Gray will be held at the Sam Jones United Methodist Church Chapel, 4:00 pm, Thursday, February 6, 2014 with Rev. Douglas Carver officiating. (There will be a private graveside service held at a later date.)

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions made to Star Manor Personal Care Home, 241 Nelson Street, Cartersville, GA 30120.

Daniel’s Funeral Home has charge of the funeral arrangements.