Martha Ernst Ernst Mayes

Martha Ernst Mayes, 85, of Rome, passed away Saturday evening, January 29,

2011.

Mrs. Mayes was born on December 20, 1925, in Hidalgo, Mexico where her father was a chemist. She was the daughter of Veta Stockdale Ernst and Walter Ernst. Growing up her family lived in several places including San Juan, Puerto Rico, Honolulu, Hawaii and Cowen TN, where she finished high school and met and married Thomas L. Mayes, Jr.

She received her degree in registered nursing from the St. Thomas School of Nursing in Nashville, TN, and attended Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Rome. She served on the board of The American Red Cross, past president of the Town and Country Garden Club, member of the Chapter E, PEO, and a volunteer (Pink Lady) at Floyd Medical Center for many years. She lived in Rome for the pasty 40 years.

Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Thomas L. Mayes, Jr.; two daughters and their spouses, Mary and Gary Cox, Silver Creek, and Louanne and Allen Mobley, Clayton, NC; a daughter-in-law, Karen Mayes, Bloomington, IL; one sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Anne and Gordon Hertel, Kingsport, TN; five grandchildren, Jeff and David Mayes, Candice and Chris Cox and Thomas Mobley; and three great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were two sons, Walter Thomas Mayes, of Rome, and Kenneth Edward Mayes, of Bloomington, IL, as well as a sister, Waleta Jane Siler and brother, Walter Shaffer Ernst, Jr.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Jeff Chadwick and Dr. James Van Dyke officiating. The family will receive friends in the King Hall of the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday from 4 until 6 p.m. A private interment will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 101 E. Third Ave., Rome, GA 30161 or your favorite charity.