Martha Ann Hetherington Cozzens, age 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 29, 2022 at Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville Tennessee. Martha was born in Houston, Texas on November 10, 1933 to George William and Bertie Mae Adams Hetherington.
Martha attended Baylor University. Her education was paused in December 1953 when she married Lieutenant Charles R. Cozzens. Martha and Charles had known each other since childhood at First Baptist Church, Texas City, Texas. Their earthly romance began while both of them were teaching Vacation Bible School in Texas City. Two of the VBS children had remarked that both classes were pleased that the Lord put them together.
Martha completed her higher education at West Texas State University, now part of the Texas A&M University system.
At an early age, Martha became a follower of Jesus Christ which secured her soul’s eternal home. Over the last 80 years Martha belonged to several southern Baptist churches in Texas and Tennessee and later found her home at First Evangelical Church in Memphis to be her final church family.
She made sure her four sons received Christian training and teaching to prepare them for life choices that would honor their Lord and Savior. All four sons received Jesus as their Lord and Savior and married God-fearing women.
Martha made a wonderful home for her family surrounded by love and affection for all of her family members. Her advice to her children was priceless and she enjoyed teaching, cooking, art, and sewing. Many of her paintings are appreciated by family members to this day. Her lifelong friends, Betty Prince and Shirley Biggers, had a shared love for children. All three participated in the children’s ministry of churches that they attended.
Martha was a stay at home mother until all of her children were in school. She was a licensed, retired elementary school teacher at Briarcrest Christian school, loved her students and set an example of her faith in Jesus for them to follow. She was gifted in painting and in music which only complemented her lifelong learning.
Martha was generous to causes that she cared about, especially those that supported children or ministry. She studied her Bible regularly, but overall, immensely enjoyed reading books, magazines and newspapers (a day was not complete without coffee and her newspaper). Her curiosity and love for learning ensured that she was always equipped for thoughtful and enjoyable conversation. Martha loved to entertain and was always an excellent hostess with an eye for details. Her family appreciated and admired her natural, southern hospitality, style, and class.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Charles, her parents, George and Bertie Hetherington, younger brother, Dr. George Hetherington, and her oldest granddaughter, Amanda Christine Cozzens McElrath. She is survived by her four sons, Charles Jr. (Linda), Stephen (Barbara), Jeffry (Cathy) and Jonathan (Janet). She has eight surviving grandchildren: Charlotte Cozzens, Katie Cozzens, Kristin Cozzens Chapman, Stephen Cozzens Jr, Lanna Cozzens, Joshua Cozzens, Jennifer Cozzens Martus and Ella Cozzens; four great grandchildren: Ian, Isaac, and Isla Chapman and Reagan McElrath.
The family requests your presence at a celebration of life held in Martha’s honor at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN on 7 October at 2 PM with visitation beginning at 12:30PM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the First Evan Missions program in her memory.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colliervillefuneral.com for the Cozzens family.
