Martha Mary Christison

Martha Christison, aged 74, a long-time resident of Marietta, GA, died in her home on September 23, 2018, after a battle with cancer. She was born on July 8, 1944 in Andover, MA and grew up in Chattanooga, TN. Ms. Christison attended Girls Preparatory School and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chattanooga and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida State University. Ms. Christison worked at Grady Hospital for 37 years where she specialized in working with children who had experienced trauma. She was one of the first therapists in the southeast to treat children with post traumatic stress syndrome. She was ever kind, compassionate and a fighter for the disadvantaged In younger years, Martha loved scuba diving. In later years, her passions were walking and genealogy—loving to discover the roots of her own family but also to help others discover theirs. She was predeceased by her father, John Christison, her mother, Emily Foss Christison McKenzie, her stepfather, George McKenzie, and her brother, Alan Christison. She leaves behind her brothers Michael Christison of Marietta, GA, Stephen Christison of Chattanooga, TN and Tim MacKenzie of Alcoa, TN and her sister, Joan Christison-Lagay of Boston, MA as well as loving in-laws, nieces and nephews, and her special cousin, Susan Taggart Pringle and her spouse, Jon, of Essex Junction, VT. She also leaves many friends, especially Jane Berrell, Julie Binney and Jean Middlebrook who were faithful companions till the end.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 between the hours of 5:00pm and 7:00pm at H.M. Patterson & Son – Canton Hill Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Road, Marietta, GA. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Road, in Marietta, GA at 11:00am on Friday, September 28, 2018. Burial will be in Chattanooga, TN at the convenience of immediate family. The family requests that any donation be made to a charity with a focus on children, the homeless or the environment.