Martha "Jennie" Virginia (Doolin) Choate

Martha Virginia (Jennie) Doolin Choate peacefully left this earth early last Thursday morning (June 15, 2023) while asleep at her home, surrounded by her children and her son-in-law. She had fallen a week beforehand, resulting in several injuries, and could not overcome the damage they had inflicted.

As the last child of Virgie Amanda Taylor Doolin and Virgil Clarence Doolin, she was born in Cooper, Texas, April 23, 1923, in her grandparents’ “Taylor homeplace” on Kaufman Street. Unfortunately, her father, Virgil, died 3 months before she was born. Martha grew up on the family farm outside of Cooper, where all of the children picked cotton and the other crops they had helped plant, and attended a one room schoolhouse. When she was three, her mother married a widowed evangelist, Luther Little, and her blended family consisted of 7 step-siblings, 6 “own siblings,” and one “half” sibling from that second union. In her spare time, she played “church,” helped in the kitchen, did her chores, played in the school booster band, and attended the little Independent Holiness Church in Cooper where her mother played the pump organ and her step-father became the full time minister.

She graduated from Cooper High School, and married Dublin Otis Choate (from Cooper) at 17 years old in 1941. They moved to Dallas where the jobs were plentiful and a life in the city was possible. They had two children, and being a mother was her most important job and ministry, as she would often say. When her son was very young, they moved to Grand Prairie, where she introduced her children to music, reading, church, and most importantly, to her genuine, unconditional love. In Grand Prairie, she and Dublin and children attended the First Nazarene Church, and later switched their affiliation to the First Methodist Church there. After moving to Greenville, Texas for 2 years, the family returned to Dallas, where they remained.

She was a gifted musician, and composed music and lyrics to more than 40 songs about her faith journey. She also was inspired to write songs for children, as she raised her own family, and beautiful celebration songs of the Christmas season. Martha attended college at Arlington State College (UT Arlington) and at East Texas State College (Texas A&M Commerce). Blessed with a good dose of entrepreneurial spirit, she was the artistic director and business manager of her daughter’s performing arts school and also had a private daycare for several very lucky and blessed toddlers. She was always active in her church, unshakeable in her faith, and loyal in service to her family.

Martha is survived by: son-Gary Otis Choate, daughter-Jennie Vonne Choate-Crowther, son-in-law- Frank Lynn Crowther, granddaughter-Rachel Marie (Choate) and husband Andrew Hasselbring, and granddaughter-Rebecca Gayle (Choate) and husband Douglas Beasley, and great-grandchildren-Katie Hasselbring, Caleb Hasselbring, Asher Beasley, Liam Beasley, and Margaret Beasley. Also surviving Martha are: sister-in-law Flora (Vernice-d) Choate, nieces - Joyce Moore (Harley-d) Davis, Lynda Doolin (Joe-d) Ballard, Shirley Doolin (James-d) Ripley, all widowed, Charla (Davis) McKiel, Barbara (Choate) Nadalich, Linda (Jack) Snow, Judy Hoover Embry, Dawn Hoover (Robert) Hood, and Donna (Keith) Thomas. Surviving nephews are: Morris Lee Doolin (Martha), Bill (Joyce-d) Choate, Jeff Gilbert, Charles Dudley (Lynda) Hoover, and many great nieces and great nephews. Surviving step-nieces and nephews are: Joy Lou (Howard) Davis, Linda Beth (Gene-d) Devers, Larry Kent (Fran-d) Little, Bonita Claudene Little, Barbara Nell (Bill-d) Viser, Judy (Ken) Meche, Patricia (Ben) Boswell, Janey (Jackson-d) Phillips, Dwayne Lee (Linda) Little, Melba Carol (Dave) Liles, Saundra Lynn (Parker) Barbour, David Paul (Monica) Little, and Neva Jean (Dan) Francis, and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Pre-deceasing her are: her husband, Dublin Otis Choate, her mother-Virgie Amanda Taylor, father-Virgil Clarence Doolin, step-father-Luther Little, brothers and sisters: Eugene (Lera) Doolin, Florene (Bud) Wickersham, Juanita (Roy Lee) Moore, Clarence (Eneva) Doolin, Doyce (Danny) Doolin, Daphana Little (Charles) Davis; step brothers and step sisters: Evie Lee (Albert) Bell, Willie (Hazel) Little, Charlie (Ima) Little, Claude (Bonnie) Little, Winnie (Elden) Stringer, Dr. Alfred (Audrey) Little, Arthur Odell (Dorothy Anderson) (Flora Stringer) Little, and a host of great and nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Vitas Hospice and the wonderful staff who cared for Martha during her final years. Additionally, the family is greatly appreciative to Dr. Cynthia Wilder, the wonderful staff at Preferred Health Partners, Christina Ramirez, LaTonya Haynes, and Sandra Conway for the loving care they administered, as well as the staff at Sparkman/Hillcrest for facilitating her funeral arrangements.

Visitation: 4:00-6:00 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at Sparkman/Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, TX 75225, 214.363.5401

Service: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25, also at Sparkman/Hillcrest, with viewing at 1:00 p.m.

Memorial Song Service: 5:00-5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at Holiness Memorial Chapel, Cooper Texas - 421 East Kaufman Street, Cooper, TX 75432

Interment: Shiloh Cemetery, 43 Farm Road 1531, Klondike, TX 75448 5:45 p.m.