Mary Martha Cochran Sayle was born on December 12, 1928 to William Robert Cochran and Agnes Louise Leech Cochran in Merigold Mississippi. She had 7 siblings: William(Billy) Cochran, Laura Irwin, Charles Cochran, Ardis (Dee) Daves, Alice Caviness, Perkins Cochran, and Robert (Bobby) Cochran all proceeded her in death. She passed away and went to our Lord on March 18, 2022 in her home, where she was surrounded by loving members of her family.
On November 15, 1946, not quite 18 years old, Martha married Edward Barnes Sayle after only knowing him for 2 weeks. They had a long and happy marriage of almost 51 years ending only at Ed’s death September 14, 1997.
Ed and Martha had 3 children Kathy Louise Clark, Linda Karen Whittington, and Edward Barnes Sayle Jr. They also had one daughter-in-law Linda Sellers Sayle and two son-in-laws Bud Clark and Cliff Whittington. She also had 7 Grandchildren Brett Clark, Holly Brewer, Chris Clark, Hope Terlecki, Scott Whittington, Stephen Sayle and Lori Ferguson and 16 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.
Martha work as a bookkeeper for 26 years. She retired from Russann Lumber Company at the age of 82 only after being diagnosed with cancer.
Although she loved working, she loved her family and church family more. This is where Martha’s heart was. She served alongside Ed, as a faithful elder’s wife at Gragg Ave. Church of Christ. While there she taught ladies classes and girls teenage classes. She started and led a widow’s support group at Stage Road Church of Christ, writing a monthly newsletter, planning and coordinating crafts, visits to nursing homes, trips and lots of fun, food and fellowship. She loved writing poems, stories , making crafts, and stuffed animals to surprise her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was always making sure her family was taken care of. She always worried about each one of them. Kathy got a nightly call. If she could not get her on the phone, she would worry until she heard from her. She always worried about Eddie not getting enough rest and taking care of himself and as for Karen she worried about everything! Her grandchildren and great grandchildren could do no wrong. They were all so special to her. She knew all of their birthdays and sent them a card with a little money in it every birthday. As for her great great grandchild, Ever, she was so in love and proud of her!
In Martha’s latter years she attended Arlington Church of Christ. During this time, she enjoyed cross stitching and making beautiful quits that she gave away to family members.
One of her last statements to Karen was, she hoped everyone knew how much she loved them.
Thank you all for celebrating the life of this wonderful, loving Christian wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, aunt, and friends
Pallbearers are grandsons Brett Clark, Chris Clark, Scott Whittington and Stephen Sayle, son-in-law Cliff Whittington and grand son-in-law Bill Terlecki
A gathering of family and friends for Martha will be held Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A celebration of life service will occur Friday, March 25, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133. A graveside service will follow Friday, March 25, 2022 , at Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Sayle family.
