Martha Joelynda (Dollar) Efurd

Martha Joelynda Dollar Efurd (Martha Jo), 92, of Greenwood, Arkansas, died in her home on August 13, 2026, in Greenwood. She was born on May 23, 1934 in Claremore, Oklahoma to Ethelyn Vick Dollar and Joel L. Dollar. She was a career educator who loved painting and travel. She lived her life in faith, service and love of family.

Martha lived an adventurous life. She moved frequently during her early years due to her father’s work with the Missouri Pacific Railroad before settling in Van Buren, Arkansas where she graduated high school in 1952. While attending the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, she met her future husband, Relf Efurd, Jr., while waiting in line for choir tryouts. When Relf graduated, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Germany. In true fairy tale fashion, Martha left college to work and save enough money to follow. After ten months, a train ride to New York City, an ocean crossing and another train ride from Paris, she arrived! Martha and Relf were married that same day on September 16, 1954 in Karlsruhe, Germany by both a German court justice and then by the base chaplain. They spent the rest of the military tour living as the locals and exploring Europe in a Volkswagen bug. They returned to the states in 1956 with the VW bug and their first child, Carol, settled in Oklahoma, and added Meryl and Paul to the family. Their adventure continued for another 46 years.

Martha continued her education and completed her Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern OSU in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She earned a Master’s degree from Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas and then a Reading Specialist certification from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.

Martha began her teaching career in 1961 in a one-room school house in Antiock, Washington County, Oklahoma teaching all eight grades before moving to Texas. She continued teaching elementary grades in Amarillo, Lubbock, and then in Shawnee, Oklahoma where Relf taught at Oklahoma Baptist University. The Efurds moved back to Greenwood in 1974 and Martha taught an additional 24 years at Westark Community College in Fort Smith as a reading specialist before retiring. She received many awards and recognitions throughout the years because of her dedication and outstanding work in education and educational organizations. In 2006, Martha was inducted into the Van Buren High School Hall of Honor.

Martha participated in and held offices in many community organizations including the South Sebastian County Historical Society, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, the Fort Smith Symphony Guild, and the Greenwood Art Guild. She was an active member of First Baptist Church, Greenwood. She sang in the choir and was a member of Clema Jean Nichols-Lydia Life Group.

Throughout her life, Martha enjoyed painting landscapes and wall murals. Her work can be found in many homes and businesses around Greenwood.

Above all, Martha was most proud of her family. She is survived by her three children: Martha Carol Mixon (Ken) of Richardson, Texas; Meryl Jo Ware (Steve) of Greenwood, and Paul Alan Efurd (Karrie) of Charleston, Arkansas; four grandchildren, seven great-grand-children, and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her brother, Ret. Major General, Douglas O. Dollar of Stillwater, Oklahoma (Gayla), one brother-in-law, Charles Efurd of Greenwood, five nieces and five nephews.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Monday, August 17 at Greenwood First Baptist Church with burial at Liberty Cemetery in Greenwood under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Bro. Ronnie Deal will officiate the service. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 – 5 p.m. at Greenwood First Baptist Church.

To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.