Trudy Wheless Martin

ROCKY MOUNT – Trudy Wheless Martin, a former resident of Charlotte and Cornelius, NC, died on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at UNC Health Nash following a brief illness.  Born in Franklin County, NC on June 8, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Alfred Lee Daniels Wheless and Mary Kathryn Hinnant Wheless of Spring Hope, NC.   Trudy was a member of the Class of 1964 of Spring Hope High School and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1970 in Interior Design. An art educator, she taught art in public schools and later, adult art education.

A loving and devoted wife, sister, aunt, and dear friend to many, Trudy cultivated friendships wherever she lived. A great cook, she kept family recipes alive each Christmas with her containers of Cheese straws, bourbon balls, divinity, and the Perry Family recipe for Plum Puddings.  Trudy enjoyed sewing and crafting and was a talented calligrapher. A longtime resident of Charlotte, Trudy and her husband Jim restored an early bungalow at 1901 Belvidere Avenue in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood.  They later moved to Cornelius and enjoyed the Lake Norman sailing community.  In March 2006 they moved to Rocky Mount to be nearer her sister Pris and family. During her time in Rocky Mount, Trudy enjoyed gardening, visits to the Beach, and reconnecting with her Spring Hope High Friends.  A member of West Haven Presbyterian Church, Trudy enjoyed her Church families in Charlotte at Myers Park Presbyterian Church and later at Unity Presbyterian Church in Denver, NC.  She was a pet owner and believed in responsible pet ownership and the work of Animal Crackers, a local non-profit protecting the animals of the Rocky Mount area.

Trudy is survived by her husband of 48 years, James Harvey “Jim” Martin; her sister, Priscilla “Pris” Wheless Sykes; nieces Kelly Wheless (Craig) Ridenour, and Kristy Wheless, Sunrise, FL , and nephews, Earl (Pam) Wheless, Asheville, N.C. and John C. Sykes III, Baton Rouge, LA; five great nieces, Lyndsay Ridenour (Troy) DiNicola, Krysten Ridenour (Kurt) Calhoun, Toni Wheless Burrell (Andy Sucre),Marshall, NC, Carli Wheless (Kevin) Uncapher, Marion, NC, Lexi Wheless(Joshua) Saxon, Rutherfordton, NC, and three great-nephews, Justin (Daniela Rappel) Logan, Sunrise, FL, Warren Martinez (Nevena Pehar), Tampa, FL and Earl Wheless III, Asheville, NC.  Trudy is also survived by her sister-in-laws, Carole H. Wheless, Asheville, NC. and Ann Martin (Fitzhugh) Stout, Charlotte, NC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Roderick Hugh Wheless and Alfred Earl Wheless, and a nephew, Matthew Wheless Sykes.

A Service will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the West Haven Presbyterian Church, 1001 West Haven Blvd, Rocky Mount, NC 27803 with the Rev. Tyler Willams officiating.  The family will host a reception at the Church immediately following the service.  Burial will be at Pine Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the West Haven Presbyterian Church, or to Animal Crackers, P.O. Box 8860, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Ada Harvey for her exceptional care and attention she devoted to Trudy, along with Kendra Murphy and Keyniva Kelly. Much appreciation and thanks to the dedicated nursing and care team and Dr. David N. Hana at UNC Health Nash.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.