Martha Hand Bobola

Martha Ann Seals [Hand] Bobola, 88, was born December 20, 1936 in Clayton, Alabama [Barbour County]. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel D. Seals and Lois A. [Norton] Seals. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, James Seals and Wallace Seals.

Martha graduated a year before her class at Clayton High School where she not only excelled in her grades, but was also a member of the Homecoming Court and voted “Best Figure” by her peers. She graduated with an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Florida Junior College in Jacksonville, Florida. She was a respected bookkeeper for the formerly known Davis, Presser CPA firm specializing in payroll taxes.

Martha carried a love for dancing starting in her pre-teen years. Her father would take her to the next town where there was a weekly dance so she could fulfill her passion. She loved horses and dogs. She even confessed that she used to ride with her brother on his motorcycle. As a young adult, she would waterski even though she never learned to swim. But most of all, Martha loved the Lord. After becoming an empty-nester, she volunteered at the food bank for Episcopal Services and was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. After the December 1998 death of her beloved husband, Joseph Hand, she joined Sacred Heart Catholic Church and completed RCIA and dedicated herself to the Catholic Church where she remained a member until her passing.

While at Sacred Heart she was a Red Hat lady and met her last love, Edward Bobola, a widower, at a Friday Fish Fry during Lent. They courted for a year and were married, during Lent, with the blessing of Fr. Victor in the church. She and Ed not only harmoniously blended their families, but shared a love of the Eucharist and served together as Eucharistic Ministers until his passing in June 2015.

Martha is survived by her two children, Billy E. [Gene] Johnson (Elizabeth) and Mitzi H. Hovancik (Michael); four grandchildren: Shalynn Sims (Michael), Whitney Gross, William [Joseph] Johnson (Casey) and Taylor Hovancik (fiancé’ Tyler Thrower) and four great-grandchildren: Michael and Luke Johnson, Alexander Sims and Trenton Thrower. Through her beloved unions with Joseph Hand and Edward Bobola, Martha was blessed with many step-children (spouses), step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren that she loved dearly.

Martha is also survived by her cherished niece, Shelia Cox and her children Amy [Cox] Duffy (Jeff), Amanda [Cox] New (Michael) and Sterling [Bryan] Cox.

Martha will be missed by her family and friends.

A visitation for Martha will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 5752 Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32244.

A Mass of Christian burial will follow on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM, 5752 Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32244.

A committal service will occur Wednesday, August 6, 2025 after the Church Ceremony at Hardage-Giddens, Riverside Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205.

At the conclusion of the committal service the family would like to invite everyone back to the church's family life center for a reception in honor of Martha.