Marjorie Kathleen Martin

Marjorie Kathleen Holmes Martin was born on February 16, 1920, in Judsonia, Arkansas, to the late Reed L. and Elizabeth White Holmes. She passed from this life on October 23, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, James Leon Martin, her sister, Irma Toms, and two brothers, Charles Axtel and Herbert Holmes. Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Janyth Baker and her husband, Ron, of Searcy, and three grandchildren, Joel Baker (Heather) of Roland, Arkansas, Lynley Phillips (Tobe) of Grapevine, Texas, and Andrew Baker (Rachel) of Searcy. Survivors very special to her are her great-grandchildren, Hunter and Savannah Baker, Isaac and Evelyn Phillips, and Abigail and Logan Cochran. Special friends left to honor her memory are Nell Darden and Sandra Johnson, former teaching colleagues, who were so faithful to visit her in the last months of illness. Special thanks to the staff of The Crossing at Riveside, especially CNAs Priscilla Walters and Rachel Hastings, for their loving care during this time. Marjorie attended Judsonia High School, during which time she won the Arkansas State Vocal Competition and was awarded a vocal scholarship. Upon graduation in 1938, she attended college for two years. She then moved to Pontiac, Michigan, where she worked as an office manager in the automotive industry at General Motors. Upon her return to Arkansas several years later, she began her teaching career in Griffithville. Upon her marriage and the birth of her daughter, she was a homemaker until her return to the classroom in 1958. She completed her teaching degree from Harding Univeristy in 1962. Marjories teaching career spanned over 30 years, both at McRae Elementary and Sidney Deener Elementary. One of her favorite teaching stories was telling of the day she and her students boarded the yellow school bus with their books in their laps to begin their first day at the new school, Deener Elementary. Music and children were the two special loves in her life, and she instilled her love of music in the hundreds of second graders that she taught over her career. If you could ask anyone she taught what their favorite part of their school day was, they would always describe singing with Mrs. Martin after the pledge of allegiance for ten to fifteen minutes first thing in the morning. In 2008 Marjorie was inducted into the Searcy Public School Hall of Honor for outstanding service in teaching. She was a longtime member of the Downtown Church of Christ where she was a Bible class teacher for many years. She was also a member of the Searcy Beethoven Club, as well as a charter member of the Greenkeepers Garden Club. Visitation with the family will be at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy on Saturday, October 27, at 1:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2:00. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Judsonia, Arkansas. www.powellfuneralhome.net

Marjorie Kathleen Martin

February 16, 1920 - October 23, 2018