Mary LaWanda Martin

Mary (LaWanda) Martin, 77, passed peacefully into the arms of her precious Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 21, 2013, after a brief illness. LaWanda was born in Lafayette Springs, MS, and graduated from Thaxton High School in 1954. She was employed by Bell Telephone in Oxford, MS, prior to her marriage to Culley Martin. In their 58 years of marriage, she was a wonderful wife & homemaker who delighted in caring for her children and grandchildren. She & her husband have attended Broadmoor Baptist Church since 1976. Her life was a testimony of her faithful walk with the Lord.

After her husband’s retirement, Culley and Lawanda moved to their lake home in Sardis, MS, where she was able to engage in her passion and talent for crappie fishing. Her vegetable and flower gardens kept her busy and were enjoyed by all; most certainly by those fortunate enough to sample her legendary cooking. Having played in high school, she was a basketball enthusiast with her favorite team being the University of Memphis Tigers. Whether it be fishing, gardening, cooking, or rooting for her team, the common thread was always sharing time with family and friends and an abundantly generous spirit.

LaWanda was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Hubbard Hudson & Inez Hudson Carwile, both of Thaxton, MS.

She is survived by her husband, Culley Martin; daughters, Donna Northcott & Lisa Martin, son, David Barry Martin (Richell), all of Memphis.

She was "MeeMaw” to four adoring grandchildren: Amber Northcott, Lindsey Northcott, Benjamin Martin, & Samuel Martin.

She is also survived by five brothers: Collins Hudson (Sharon) of Southaven, MS, Loyd Hudson (Mary) of Germantown, TN, Tommy Hudson (Charlotte) of Tupelo, MS, Leighton Hudson (Diane) of Walls, MS, and Bill Carwile (Diane) of Amory, MS, and many nieces and nephews.

The gathering of family and friends will be at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd. on Saturday, August 24 from 12:30p.m. till service time at 2:30 p.m. Brother Bo Grace will officiate. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be made at www.memphisfuneralhome.net