Martha Ann Long

Martha A. Long (Marti), a devoted wife, mother of six including step children, grandmother of ten, great grandmother of one, and a woman who fit in wherever she went, passed away early on September 1, 2026, peacefully with her husband at her side. She was 83 officially but would have turned 84 on September 20.

Marti was born in Danville, Kentucky on September 20, 1942 to Harold and Helen Wood. She grew up there with her younger siblings, John and Karen, until age 16 when her family moved to Orlando, Florida, where she graduated from Maynard Evans High School. An early marriage produced a son, Thomas Glen Beagles. Later, she married David Hanlon who had three grown sons, David, Roger, and Terry. He passed away suddenly after ten years of marriage. Eventually, she married Donald Long and became a full-time military wife and instant step mother to five more, Leigh, Leslie, Lauresa, Livia, and Donald Jr.; a big challenge, but she survived it well.

Eventually, she moved to Ft. Rucker, Alabama, for four years. While there, she went to college full time for two years at Douglas MacArthur State Technical College, graduating with an Associate Degree in Drafting and Interior Design. The course also required her to take classes in psychology, trigonometry, analytical geometry, algebra and physics, along with the drafting and material strength classes. Her work in the classes resulted in 29 A’s and 2 B’s, which showed her determination to do well.

That determination was evident after her husband retired from the Army and they moved back to Orlando. After several jobs with small companies, Marti got hired as an interior designer with General Mills. The company had a section called SIGMACON, which was their construction department. This eventually led to her greatly influencing the design of the interior of all Red Lobster restaurants in the early to mid 80’s. Eventually, she started her own business which resulted in her designing the interior of the Shipyard Brewing Company at the Orlando airport along with others such as the customs store.

Due to her husband gaining federal employment with the Army in Germany, she left her business for the new opportunity where she fully enjoyed being in Germany, and they took advantage of the chance to visit over 20 countries in two separate times there, four years in the 80’s and 3 years in the 90’s.

After full retirement she enjoyed spending half her year, in the summer, in Murphy, North Carolina, and the other half in the Orlando area. Anytime she could, she loved going to the beach. She also enjoyed the family gatherings at her home for the special holidays.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Helen Wood. She is survived by all those family mentioned above.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Baldwin-Fairchild, 7520 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, Florida, on Oct 10, 2026 from 12 noon until 3 PM.