Johnson, Martha Louise

Retired From The Hamilton County School System

  • Thursday, October 27, 2022
Martha Louise Johnson
Martha Louise Johnson

Martha Louise Johnson, 78, of Sale Creek, Tennessee, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Martha was born on Jan. 25, 1944, to Arvel and Ruby Hodge.  She was the mother of two daughters, Donna Dotson Penney, and Loretta Dotson Starnes-Richardson.

Martha was a graduate of Sale Creek High School.  She began a career at Shoneys restaurant in Hixson, in management.  Martha also was on the Bob Brandy Show to promote Shoneys Big Boy hamburgers.

Martha worked hard all her life to support her family. She retired from the Hamilton County School system. Martha worked as a custodian and on the paint crew where she met the love of her life Bill Johnson. She was one of the first female firefighters and EMTs for the Dallas Bay Fire Department.

Martha and Bill enjoyed traveling the country in their motorhome, deer hunting, and watching NASCAR races.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arvel Lee and Ruby Mae Levi Hodge, three brothers, Leroy Hodge, William Hodge, and James Robert Hodge, and step-grandson, Logan Dotson.

Martha is survived by her husband of 38 years, Bill Johnson, daughters, Donna Dotson Penney, and Loretta Dotson Starnes-Richardson, stepsons, Darrel Johnson, and Larry Dotson, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and sister, Eula Mae Varner, and several nieces and nephews.

Our family wants to thank Hospice of Chattanooga, sitters Debra South and volunteer Lou Shipley.

Funeral services will be held at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.  Interment follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens West.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 11 a.m. until service time at North Chapel.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343. 

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.

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