Katharine Pauline Martin passed away peacefully at home Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. Katharine was a lifelong resident of Union County, Ga.
Mrs. Martin was born March 9, 1935, the daughter of the late Raleigh Henderson and Flossie Emerson.
She was preceded in death by her father, Raleigh James Henderson; mother, Flossie Jane Emerson Henderson Williamson; brother, Bill Ray Williamson; and step-grandchild, Zachary Tritt.
She was a member of Zebulon Baptist Church in Blairsville, Ga.
Katharine is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, the Rev. R.L. Martin; four children, Gary Martin, Terry and Robbin Martin, Jerome and Jamie Martin, Noni and Anthony Tritt; 11 grandchildren, Brandon and Niki Martin, Garrick and Vannie Martin, Patrick Martin, Emily and Bo McClure, Whitney and Wes McClure, Alex and Brittany Martin, Tyler Martin, Ethan and Brittany Martin, Eli Martin, Logan Tritt and Isaac Tritt; four step-grandchildren, Clay and Brad McConnell, Courtney and Evan Moose; and 11 great-grandchildren also survive.
Katharine was a devoted wife and mother, who held values high and put her family first. She had a loving nature, a heart of gold and was the very best the world could hold, never selfish, always kind and always praying. These are the memories for a special person in God’s care.
The memories of our mom are precious and impossible to express in such a short space. Our mom was extremely kind and generous to all. She loved her God, family, friends and neighbors.
Mom was hard working and was an artistic person. She made a lot of the shirts and dresses we wore to school from flower and feed sacks. She would also order material but we like telling the story of the flower and feed sacks. We were always complimented on our clothes because they were unique and couldn’t be purchased in stores. She was a whiz with needle and thread.
Mom’s hard work kept us fed in the summer and winter. We always had fresh vegetables from the garden that she and Dad planted and harvested. She would preserve these same vegetables for the winter by canning, freezing and pickling; you name it and she did it. She also preserved meats for us as well, as she and our Aunt Dorothy would pressure can hundreds of cans of sausage on a wood stove for us to have in the cold winter months. She would cook that same sausage for breakfast every morning along with her famous biscuits, gravy, farm fresh eggs and homemade blackberry jelly. Breakfast was the first thing we smelled when we awoke before getting up for school.
Aside from her artistic side, she was a very intelligent person who loved to read. She read book after book. She read so many books that she laughed about starting a book and then realizing she had already read it. After her chores were done, she would get us in her lap and read to us. So, by the time we started school we could already partially read. Learning to read was so easy because of the time she spent with us.
We always knew that whatever we did, mom would stand behind us. She might be disappointed, but would never stop loving us. She was always encouraging, and when we were challenged and ready to give up, she would always say, “You can do this, you can do anything you set your mind to doing.” This kind of encouragement can only come from a mother’s love and is something we will all miss very much.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, from Mountain View Chapel with the Rev. Paul Ray Morgan and Pastor Ray Potts officiating. Special music was presented by the Zebulon Baptist Church Choir. Interment followed in Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. The following gentleman served as pallbearers: Brandon Martin, Garrick Martin, Patrick Martin, Alex Martin, Tyler Martin, Ethan Martin, Eli Martin, Logan Tritt and Isaac Tritt.
The family met with friends from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at the funeral home.
Flowers were accepted, or the family requested that donations be made to Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery or the Alzheimer’s Association, 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 400 McLean, VA 22102 in Katharine’s memory.
Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville was in charge of arrangements.
You may sign the family guest book and send condolences online at mountainviewfuneralhome.com.