Martha Haught Bryson

Martha was the strongest woman we knew – a steady, loving presence who radiated kindness. She was a source of strength for so many, always ready to lend a hand or speak truth with compassion and clarity. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, grace, humor, and unconditional love and we will carry her in our hearts forever.

Martha was raised on her family’s farm in Rixeyville, Virginia where she spent her childhood helping her father with daily farm work – learning the value of hard work, resilience, and care for the land and animals. After her father’s passing, Martha remained committed to the farm and its legacy, ensuring operations continued and that the spirit of the land she grew up on lived on through her stewardship and love. She carried that same sense of duty and loyalty into her professional life. Martha dedicated over 35 years to federal service – first with the Department of Defense for many years and later with the Department of the Interior. She was respected for her diligence and integrity. However, her greatest joys came from life outside of work – in her garden, with her animals, in the water, and most of all, in the presence of her grandchildren who she adored beyond measure.

Martha is survived by her devoted husband, Mark Austin Bryson; her daughters, Morgan Bryson Anderson and her husband, Nicholas, and Sarah Bryson DeBorde and her husband, Riley; her mother, Mary Cecelia “Celey” Haught; her sister, Valarie Paige Minner and her husband Kenny; and her grandchildren Hollin, Isla, and Sutton. Martha is preceded in death by her father, Vincent Goodsel “Jerry” Haught, Jr. She also leaves behind extended family, dear friends, and all those lucky enough to have been loved by her.

Family visitation will be held at Clore-English Funeral Home, 11190 James Monroe Hwy, Culpeper, Virginia on Monday, July 28, 2025 from 6:00pm-8:00pm. A funeral service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at 11am on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Clore-English Funeral Home with Pastor Dan Carlton officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Haught Family Cemetery in Rixeyville.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in her memory to the Culpeper Humane Society, a cause close to Martha’s heart. She had a lifelong love for all animals and a tender spirit for every furry friend who crossed her path.