Martha Annette Rhoades-Spivey

Martha was born April 19, 1962 in Wooster, Ohio. She went to high school in Sharon Hill, PA and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Journalism in 1985. She married David E. Spivey on October 22, 1988 at the University of Maryland Memorial Chapel.

Martha was a gifted, professional photographer who enjoyed travel, snow skiing and the beach. She loved champagne. A spirited and determined woman, she had worked hard to recover from a ruptured brain aneurysm in January of 2012. After 15 months in John’s Hopkins Hospital at Bayview, Martha and David were making plans for her return home on her birthday in two weeks. She treasured the devotion of her husband throughout their marriage and especially during the past 15 months as they worked together for her recovery.

She was a member of the Business Women’s Network, the Baltimore-Washington Chamber of Commerce and served on the Brotman Financial Group’s Advisory Board.

She is survived by her loving husband, David E. Spivey; father Bernarr L. and Gaile Rhoades of Gilbertville, Pennsylvania; mother Alma M. Permar of Tucson, Arizona and George MacPherson; mother-in-law Barbara K. Spivey of Frederick, Maryland; sister-in-laws Anne L. Spivey of Frederick, Maryland and Jean K. Spivey of Austin, Texas. The family is very grateful for the love and support of many family, friends and strangers throughout this period.

A memorial gathering will be held on Monday, April 8, 2013 from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Witzke Funeral Home at 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045 (410-992-9090). Martha’s memorial service will be at the same location on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Martha’s name to the Neurological Critical Care Unit at Johns Hopkins Medical Center at Bayview. There is an online guestbook at witzkefuneralhomes.com for those who wish to share memories or offer condolences.