Martha Lou Johnson Campbell

NORTHPORT – Martha Lou Johnson Campbell, age 83, passed away peacefully at home on her beloved farm, surrounded by her family and caregivers, on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Martha was married to the love of her life, Franklin D. Campbell, for 64 years. She was a loving, devoted, Godly wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, devoting her entire life to serving God, taking care of her family, and being a wonderful friend to many. She is now rejoicing in heaven, completely healed and free, for now and evermore.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Sterling A. and Lola Shamblin Johnson; sister, Mary Ann Johnson Petitt; and niece, Lesley Ann Pettit Newell.

She is survived by her husband, Franklin D. Campbell; daughters, Celeste Campbell Hagler (Marty) and Pamela A. Pritchett; son, Mark G. Campbell; grandchildren, Kent Sterling Hagler (Tara); and great-grandchild, Deacon Sterling Hagler.

Martha loved her family heritage and was thankful to be able to raise her family on the farm that was established in 1899 by her grandparents. She grew up on the farm with her grandparents and parents, returning to the farm with her children where she enjoyed riding and showing horses, gardening, and anything outdoors. She was so excited that her children returned to the farm and that her grandson is raising his family there. The recent birth of her great-grandson brought her so much joy and peace.

Martha loved showing horses and being with her horse friends. She was quite accomplished, winning many awards, including a National Championship. She spent many hours and weekends taking care of the horses, training with her daughters and son, and traveling to shows. Many of her happiest times were in the saddle.

Martha was also an accomplished seamstress, sewing almost everything her children wore, including her daughters’ wedding dresses. She sewed all of her and her family’s horse riding apparel, twirling costumes, and whatever was needed for special occasions. She sewed for many people, including the Alabama Crimsonettes. One football season, the Crimsonettes costumes were not going to arrive on time and she spent days and nights sewing costumes for their first performance of that season.

Somehow, while taking care of family and so many activities, Martha also worked at Northport Pharmacy for 40 years. She loved her job and her co-workers, and worked as long as she physically could. She had so many fond memories of her work there and the many friends she made along the way.

Second to family, her love of music was very, very dear to her heart. Singing and playing piano at church from a very early age, a talent she inherited from her Mother, she continued singing hymns and praising Jesus until she left her earthly home and went to sing with the heavenly hosts. She sang in the Tuscaloosa Civic Chorus for many years where she enjoyed performing for our community. What she missed most though, what filled her heart up with joy, was singing in the choir at Northport Baptist Church. She loved Dr. John Hinton and her choir friends so much and talked of her memories with them often. She loved serving God with all of her heart, and showed the love of Jesus to many, many people in so many ways.

The family would like to thank the amazing ladies who poured their hearts out helping give Martha excellent care and companionship. Thank you to Carol Moore, April Sanderson, Freda Mullins, and GiGi Hawkins. Words cannot express what you meant to Martha and what you mean to us.

We’d also like to thank everyone who made Martha’s life so enjoyable and memorable; her many horse friends, including Eddie and Glenda Barrow, Chuck and Ellen Krakowski, Terry and Beth Lake, and Edwina Duddy and family; Dr. John Hinton and the Northport Baptist Church Choir; Reba Howell Sunday School Class; Rob and Jennifer Colburn, Vanessa Boswell, and past and present employees of Northport Pharmacy; past and present residents of Johnson Trailer Park; the Mt. Olive Community; Dr. Eugene Mangieri and staff; and the staff of Amedisys Home Hospice.

Out of caution, and to keep family members safe and healthy, the family will hold a private graveside service at Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery on Friday, October 8, 2021, officiated by longtime pastor and friend, Dr. John Nixon, and directed by Memory Chapel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.