Martha Helen Lewis Martin
December 5, 1957 ~ April 5, 2013
Martha Helen Lewis Martin, 55, died on Friday, April 5, 2013 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Rocky Mount on December 5, 1957 to Ray Stanley Lewis and Betty Lanier Lewis.
Martha grew up in the West Edgecombe community, where she graduated from West Edgecombe High School in 1976. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Meredith College in 1980, her Masters of Arts degree in Elementary Education from East Carolina University in 1983, and special certification in Educational Administration and Supervision from East Carolina University in 1985. Martha spent seven years teaching in North Carolina and Virginia before serving as assistant principal for nine years at East End Elementary School, Williamston Primary School, and E.J. Hayes Elementary School in Martin County. She went on to serve as principal at Stantonsburg Elementary School and Vinson-Bynum Elementary School in Wilson County before ending her career at Lockhart Elementary School in Knightdale. She was honored to have been selected twice as the Principal of the Year in Wilson County in 1999 and 2002. Martha believed strongly in the value of a good education and was known by many as one of the finest principals in eastern North Carolina. Her legacy will endure in the lives of the hundreds of teachers and thousands of students who were fortunate enough to have learned under her tutelage.
Martha is the proud mother of Drew Martin of Charlotte, Meagan Martin of Chapel Hill, and Tyler Martin of Wilmington, who she leaves to forever cherish her memory. She is also survived by her parents, Ray and Betty Lewis; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathy and Donald Boswell and Lori and Ron Day; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Pender and Becky Lewis and Tim and Lisa Lewis; a host of nieces and nephews; and Mary Margaret Smith, Drews longtime girlfriend.
Martha and her family will be ever grateful for the exceptional care that she received at the North Carolina Womens Hospital and the Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice during her illness and final days.
The family will receive friends at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at West Edgecombe Baptist Church. A service in celebration of her life will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the Reverend Terry Brooks officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Martin Childrens Fund through Edward Jones Investments at P.O. Box 8018, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 or to Lockhart Elementary PTA at 1320 N. Smithfield Road, Knightdale, NC 27545, where funds will be used to purchase childrens books. These memorials have been established by the family as a final tribute to Martha's steadfast commitment to her own children and to the education of the children of North Carolina.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 North Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences by visiting http://www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
Wheeler Woodlief Funeral Home
Visitation
West Edgecombe Baptist Church
13821 NC Highway 43 N
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
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Sunday 4/7, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Service
West Edgecombe Baptist Church
13821 NC Highway 43 N
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
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Sunday 4/7, 3:00 pm
Cemetery
Rocky Mount Memorial Park
4454 Dortches Blvd., Hwy 43
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
I will forever cherish the memories of the years working with Martha at Lockhart. She has touched so many lives.
Martha was an incredible principal. She touched the lives of many, many students, parents, and coworkers! I can honestly say I am a better person and teacher for having known her.
A wonderful co worker, educator, boss, and most of all, friend!
My continued thoughts and prayers are with your family. Your Mom was a truly wonderful administrator at Lockhart. My heart is saddened by your loss. Fay Davenport
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
What an amazing woman. Martha cared about all of us at Lockhart and made each of us feel so important. She was a great friend, mentor and leader.
Martha was the best principal I’ve ever worked for. I will always remember her sense of humor, the respect that she gave to every family, and her amazing ability to maintain calm even in the middle of the most stressful situations. She touched the lives of so many.
I share in your loss and my prayers will forever be with you. I had the pleasure of working with Martha Martin as her secretary during her first 3 years as principal. What a great Christian woman. I have nothing but fond memories of her. She touched so many lives in a positive way.
Our Lockhart Family has lost one of its most precious members. Ms. Martin cared for us and our students like we were her own family. She was one of the most devoted and loving people I have ever known. I am so grateful to have worked with her and blessed to call her my friend.
Martha was a very special lady who touched the lives of many. It was an honor to have worked with her and call her my friend. She will be missed… Diane Smith
Martha loved her family, she loved her faculty, and she loved her students. We were privileged to have such a wonderful lady in our lives for whatever time period we got to be with her. My prayers go out to her parents, her three children, and the thousands of other people she has influenced over her career. We love you Martha! Brian, Jenny, SarahBeth, Jackson, and Atlee McKinney
Martha brought true joy and light to each day. She will be well remembered and much missed. It was my honor to know her.
So many thoughts and emotions to share about Martha. I was able to see her as the amazing daughter, mother, educator, leader, and Christian she lived to be daily. What an honor and blessing to have called her my friend! Pam Hardee
I remember Martha as a sweet loving lady who helped me when I had to bring my then 5 yr old to start kindergarrten. She made me feel comfortable and made me feel good about being a single mom.Heaven gained a new angel!
It was such an honor to have worked with Martha at Lockhart. She truly loved her staff and students. She always had time time to share in your joys and sorrows. She will be greatly missed.
Working with Martha was the best thing that any teacher could ask for. She was an outstanding professional, kind and warm always. She knew all of her Lockhart family, staff and children alike. Everybody was important for her, from a little kindergartener telling her about her new toy to a staff member concerned about test scores. I will always remember her beautiful smile greeting every single one of those little souls that walked through Lockhart’s doors every morning with a personal good morning, a handshake and of course a big hug. Thank you Martha you have taught me so much!!
Such an awesome person Martha was…..my son Seth attended Lockhart and she always brought a smile to his face and he had so much respect for her. It was so apparent each and every day that this is what she was meant to do and that it came from her heart. Seth and I are very sad, and were so shocked to hear of your lose. She has helped so many children become what they will be in the future….respectful, hardworking, caring adults. She will never be forgotten. Seth Butcher & Anita Massey
I had the privilege of working with Martha at Lockhart. Her compassion for others ran deep. She stood in the hall each morning and greeted each arriving student by name. She visited our classrooms each day just to make sure we are ok. She started each meeting with a funny story about her own children, and our ensuing laughter made the tasks we had to tackle seem a bit easier. She knew each of us and our families and rejoiced with us and wept with us. Every Principal should strive to be the compassionate leader she was. She was truly one of a kind. I thank you, her family, for the sacrifices you made as she served others so graciously. I thank you for sharing her with us! I feel so blessed!
Lit a candle in memory of Martha Helen Lewis Martin
I was privileged to be a teacher at Lockhart for a few years with Martha as principal. She was such a blessing to her facultystaff, students, parents, and community. She truly cared for and always seemed to put others before herself. Words of wisdom and comfort came so easily from her whether in speaking or in writing so that every situation turned out better because she cared. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. She will be missed greatly by so many, but she has left everyone with endless fond memories. Mary Ann Alford