Katharine Pauline Martin passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 10, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. Katharine was a lifelong resident of Union County Georgia. Mrs. Martin was born on March 9, 1935, the daughter of the late Raleigh Henderson & late 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, Reverend R.L. Martin, four children, Gary Martin, Terry & Robbin Martin, Jerome & Jamie Martin, Noni & Anthony Tritt, eleven grandchildren, Brandon & Niki Martin, Garrick & Vannie Martin, Patrick Martin, Emily & Bo McClure, Whitney & Wes McClure, Alex & Brittany Martin, Tyler Martin, Ethan & Brittany Martin, Eli Martin, Logan Tritt, and Isaac Tritt, four step-grandchildren, Clay & Brad McConnell, Courtney & Evan Moose, and eleven 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 will be held on Sunday January 12, 2020 at 2:00pm from the Mountain View Chapel with Rev. Paul Ray Morgan & Pastor Ray Potts officiating. Special music will be presented by the Zebulon Baptist Church Choir. Interment will follow in Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. The following gentleman will serve as pallbearers, Brandon Martin, Garrick Martin, Patrick Martin, Alex Martin, Tyler Martin, Ethan Martin, Eli Martin, Logan Tritt, and Isaac Tritt. The family will meet with friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6:00pm-9:00pm prior to the services. Flowers are accepted, or if you wish the family requests 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 is in charge of the arrangements. You may sign the family guest book and send condolences on line at www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com