Helen Smith Martin

Helen Smith Martin passed away on the evening of April 15, 2016. She was 84 years old. Helen was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 13, 1931. Helen was the daughter of Thomas Marvin Smith and Laura Rogers Smith. She attended E. Rivers Elementary School, North Fulton High School, graduated from the University of Georgia in 1952 and went on to earn her master’s degree in elementary education from Jacksonville University and Georgia State University. Cheering for Georgia Bulldog football throughout her life brought her much joy. Helen is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Ralph P. Martin, originally from Gastonia, North Carolina, and her children, Laura M. Murphy (Charles C. Murphy), Ralph P. Martin, Jr. (Bonnie H. Martin) and her adored grandchildren, Elizabeth Martin, Ross Martin and Charlie Murphy, all currently living in Atlanta, Georgia. Helen and Ralph married in 1953 and moved to Jacksonville, Florida. She was substitute teaching when she discovered she had a passion for education and taught grades four through six for over twenty years. She spent her final years in education as the instructional lead teacher at Chesnut Elementary in Dunwoody, Georgia. In her retirement years, Helen devoted herself to her children and grandchildren, while also enjoying her longtime friends, many games of bridge and studying the Bible with her cherished Sunday School class at Dunwoody United Methodist Church. She enjoyed serving as a docent to school groups at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta for ten years. Helen enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the world during her summer teaching breaks and during retirement with Ralph and their adventurous friends. A memorial service will be held at Dunwoody United Methodist Church on Thursday April 21, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be private at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Georgia. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/donate.