Martha Jackson Kennedy

Mrs. Kennedy was born July 24, 1927 in Cartersville, Georgia, daughter of Robert Jackson and Lillian Dodd Jackson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Joe Dolph Kennedy Jr.; brothers, Hugh Jackson, Milton Jackson, Marshall Jackson and Louis Jackson, all of Cartersville and Douglas Bagley and Darwin Bagley of Rome; and son-in-law, Hugh Smith of Rome.

Mrs. Kennedy has been a member of Second Avenue United Methodist Church since 1947 and has taught an adult Sunday School class since 1966. She attended Cartersville public schools, and graduated from Shorter College in 1948. Mrs. Kennedy was a former Director of Alumni Affairs at Shorter College and Assistant to Director of Work Opportunity at Berry College.

Mrs. Kennedy served on the Rome Board of Education from 1970 – 1979 (resigning so her daughter Cindy could teach with Rome City Schools). She was the 1st woman elected to the Rome City Commission and served from January 1981 to December 1995. She also served on the GA Municipal Association Board of Trustees; was appointed by Gov. Joe Frank Harris to the GA Dept. of Community Affairs Board and served 2 terms; earned a Woman of Achievement Award from Cherokee Business and Professional Women’s Club in 1987; was a member of the Coosa Valley Planning & Development Commission; and also was a member of the Floyd County Democratic Association and received the Maynor Grant Award and inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1996. Mrs. Kennedy received the Heart of Community Award of Honor in 1996; was Grand Marshall of the Rome Christmas Parade in 1999; and received the Shorter Alumni of the Year and Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996. She was a member of the M L King Celebration Commission of MW GA from its inception and presented a resolution in 1996. In 1996, she also received a Public Service Award for Exemplary Leadership and Commitment to Parks and Recreation. Mrs. Kennedy received the Jean Harris Award from 7 Hills Rotary; served 6 terms on the Sara Hightower Library Board of Trustees; served on the Keep Rome Beautiful Board; was a charter member and Past President of Mountain View Garden Club; and volunteered with Good Neighbor Ministries from its beginning to 2009. She was a member of AAUW, served as a Relay for Life Team Captain for 10 years, and an avid Atlanta and Rome Braves Fan.

Survivors include her twin sister, Mary Stivers and her husband, Ted, of St. Simons Island; sister-in-law, Mrs. Hugh Jackson, of Alpharetta; her sons, Henry Kennedy and wife, Marvene, of Noblesville, IN, John Kennedy and wife, Beth, of Cartersville; daughters, Susan Kennedy and spouse, Maggie Mermin, of Atlanta and Cindy Smith, of Rome; grandchildren, Mary Beth Tucker, Rome, Robert and his wife Nicole Kennedy of Marietta and Joey Kennedy of Milwaukee, WI; and great-grandchildren, Isaac and Noah Tucker and Jackson and Will Kennedy.

A Celebration of Life Service was held on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 3:00 pm in 2nd Avenue United Methodist Church with the Rev. Beth Sanders officiating. The family received friends on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Daniel’s Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made to Second Avenue United Methodist Church, 801 East 2nd Avenue, Rome, GA 30161 or Good Neighbor Ministries, 208 East 2nd Street, Rome, GA 30161.

Daniel's Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Martha Jackson Kennedy.