Martha B. Wheless

Graveside services will be held at 2 PM Friday, January 3, 2003 at Forest Park Cemetery on St. Vincent for Martha B. Wheless, age 87. Officiating the services will be the Very Reverend M. L. Agnew, Dean of St. Mark?s Cathedral and The Reverend Canon Jane Alexander. Martha died Tuesday afternoon at her residence. Martha was born on February 17, 1915 in Dyersburg, Tennessee. She married Hewitt H. Wheless in 1939 in Trinidad, BWI. The two returned to Louisiana in 1940. Martha began her work history as a bridal consultant; a business she started after her daughter Nancy married and there was no one to help with the planning. She served on the St. Mark?s School Board, headed the Jesuit Mother?s Club Style Show, served on the boards of the Caddo Exceptional Children and Holiday in Dixie, worked with the Caddo Foundation of Exceptional Children, Red Cross, and Molly Webb Hearing Center. She served the Junior League in numerous capacities including president and vice-president. She was awarded Sustainer of the Year by the League in 1978 and was a member of the DAR. Her "crowning glory", however, was her work as Regional Director of the American Heart Association. She held this position for 15 years. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Hewitt H. Wheless, Sr.; parents, W. B. and Viola Bradshaw; her brother and sister-in-law, W. T. and Jean Bradshaw. She is survived by her three children, Hewitt H. Wheless, Jr. and wife, Terry; Nancy Robinson and husband, Jim; and Marti Kirkpatrick and husband, Jody. Also surviving her are four grandchildren, Jimmy Robinson, John Robinson, Tiffany Armstrong and Patricia Wheless; five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Robinson, John Robinson, Bill Bradshaw, John McIntyre, Tom Hendricks and John Guth. The family would like to thank Kelly Malone, her very special friend and care-giver and Hospice Longview, for their care and kindness during this very difficult time. The family requests donations in Martha?s honor be made to Hospice Longview, Inc., 1306 Pine Tree Road, Longview, Texas 75604 or to the charity of the donor?s choice. Family and friends are invited to the home of John & Garland Guth, 521 Delaware, after the service to celebrate Martha?s life.

Martha B. Wheless

February 17, 1915 - December 31, 2002