Martha Brown Martinez

Martha Brown Martinez, a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and mentor, died Saturday, December 13, 2008 at her home in Russellville, AL at the age of 73. Martha had suffered several years with Alzheimer's, and a rare form of neuropathy. Recently, Martha had fallen, and broke her hip. She was at home with her husband, Joe, when she passed. The visitation will be 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Spry Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, December 17, 2008. The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2008 in the chapel. Officiating will be Bro. Joe Lenox. Interment will be in Knights of Pythias Cemetery. Martha was born in Russellville, AL on June 27, 1935. After graduating from Russellville High School, she attended St. Vincent School of Nursing in Birmingham, AL where she received her RN Degree. After earning her nursing degree, she worked for several hospitals in the North Alabama area. And, in her young career Martha joined the U.S. Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant. She served in Vietnam 1967-1969 as an Air Evac. Flight Nurse with the 57th Air Evac. Squadron, transporting wounded servicemen and women to military hospitals to all parts of the world. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Abraham (Joe) Martinez, who was also in the Air Force and had recently completed his tour at DaNang, Vietnam, and reassigned to Japan where his young 8 year old son Sam, joined his father. When Martha's plane carrying the wounded would land at the Air Force Base in Yakota, Japan, where Joe was stationed, Joe would be standing on the tarmac awaiting her arrival with 2 dozen roses. A practice that Joe continued through out every anniversary of their 40 years of marriage. After meeting Joe's son, Sam, she fell in love- with Sam just as much as with Joe- and their family was born. Joe and Martha married May 8, 1968. She completed her three year commitment to the Air Force, and placed in Reserves status as a Captain and became mother to Sam and Rita. Upon her return to the U.S., Martha continued working as a nurse and returned to the University of North Alabama where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She served as the Associate Director of Nursing at Northwest Shoals Community College. While at Northwest, she also served as cheerleader sponsor. Martha also completed a labor of love by spending 5 years researching and publishing the Brown Family Tree. A copy can be located at the Russellville, Alabama library. Martha was proud of her service to her country and lived a full life. She lived in and visited numerous countries, including Philippines, Japan, Germany, France and Mexico. However, Russellville was always her home and she returned here to raise her family. She was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church. Martha was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and served as Treasure, and Deputy Commander of Chapter 10, Russellville, Alabama. Martha touched the lives of many through her career in nursing and education. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. Martha is survived by her husband, Abraham (Joe) Martinez, Russellville, AL; son, Sam Martinez, Michigan; daughter and son-in-law, Rita and Jesse Dison, Alaska; grandchildren, Fred Martinez, New Orleans, Christopher Martinez, Sheffield, AL, Jessica Dison, Alaska, Jeffrey Dison, Alaska; two great grandchildren; sister, Margaret Boyles; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Bessie Brown; and by her brothers, Fred Jackson Brown and Raymond Elton Brown. Members of the family will serve as pallbearers.

Martha Brown Martinez

June 27, 1935 - December 13, 2008

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