Martha A. Newton

Born Martha Ann Banner on February 1, 1930, she grew up in Blowing Rock. She came to Charlotte in 1948, where she met her first love, Jack N. McWhirter, who led the Real Estate department for the City of Charlotte. They were happily married for 45 years, until he passed away in June 1997. They raised two daughters, Janet and Allyson, whom they loved very much.

She married her second love, Alfred Newton, in April 1999, a retired professor of Industrial Education at Clemson University. They travelled the world for many years, until they settled down in their Carolina home, with their beloved mountains and families close by.

Martha is survived by her husband, Alfred F. Newton, of Piedmont, SC; her daughters, Janet B. Kale and Allyson M. (Cooksey) Jones, both of Charlotte, and a step-daughter, Dr. Robin Lacroix of Piedmont, SC; two siblings, Ernest A. Banner, Jr., of Columbia, SC, and Norma Jean Connelly, of Anderson, SC; another sister, Ernestine Peksa, preceded her in death. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Amber Hallam, of Rogers, AR; Michael Kale, of Matthews; Jessica Lauren Kale, of Charlotte; Abigail B. Cooksey of Farmington, NM; Anna Nichols and Neil Charles (Charlie) Cooksey, Jr., of Charlotte; MacKenzie Kelly, of Springfield, TN; Hunter Kelly, of Greenville, SC; Evan and William Lacroix, of Piedmont, SC; and seven great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 23, at Harry & Bryant Funeral Home, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, with visitation to follow.

The family requests no flowers. Any condolences or gifts in her name can be made to charity.