Martha C. McCarley
Martha C. McCarley, 83, of Ringgold, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 23, 2024.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24
Martha Jean Crowder McCarley was born on Oct. 20, 1940, in Vernon, Al., to the late Carlos Lee Crowder and Ruth Collins Crowder. She attended public schools in Vernon and graduated from Lamar County High School in 1958. She attended the University of Alabama and graduated in 1962 and remained a life-long fan of the Crimson Tide. In 1987, she earned her M.Ed. in Special Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Following her graduation from college, she married Mack McCarley and had two children, Beth and Lee. She was a longtime member of Brainerd Baptist Church. Her parents and maternal grandfather were accomplished musicians, and she carried on her family tradition by celebrating her faith by singing in the choir and as a member of the handbell ensemble. In her later years she was a member of Ridgedale Baptist Church, where she continued to share her faith as a Sunday School teacher.
In 1972, Martha began teaching Bible courses in public schools as a part-time teacher. In 1977, she became a full-time teacher for Hamilton County schools, teaching Math, English, and Social Studies. Throughout her 30-year career as an educator, she served as the supervisor of the Superintendent’s Leadership Conference for eight years and served as a teacher for gifted students for 23 years in Hamilton County. In addition to her work in the classroom, Martha served as director of Children's Bible Drills for the Hamilton County Baptist Association, the president of the Chattanooga chapter of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, and as a member of the Brainerd Baptist Church School Board.
In her years as an educator, she garnered many awards including the Liberty Bell Award from the Chattanooga Bar Association, the Top Teacher, Secondary Division, Hamilton County Schools, the Citizenship Education Teacher award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and twice was a finalist for the Hamilton County Education Association's Distinguished Classroom Teacher award. Despite these and many other accolades, she did not talk about awards when she talked about her work as an educator. Instead, she would talk fondly of former students who became physicians, attorneys, and community leaders. She gave little thought to her own accomplishments but took great joy in telling of the successes of her former students.
In her personal life as well, Martha was a gracious host at family gatherings and parties for friends. In fact, she was often so busy ensuring everyone was enjoying themselves she hardly sat down. She loved sharing music, laughter and joy with family and friends. Even of her own grandchildren and great grandchildren, she would say "I don't mind noisy children when the noises are happy noises." In all walks of her life - faith, education, family and friends - she worked to bring happiness to those around her with little thought for herself.
Martha's life was a life lived in service to others - bringing light and laughter to those she loved.
Martha is survived by her daughter, Beth Sawyer and husband, Steve; son, Lee McCarley and wife, Kelly; grandchildren, Ashton Jackson and her husband, Nyjel, Christian Sawyer and his wife, Callie; Jeremy, Jordan, and Joshua Collins; Jacqueline Lemmond and her husband, Matt; and great-grandchildren Jackson and Scarlet Lemmond.
The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 29, at 1 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. A private family burial will follow the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at https://www.alzfdn.org.
You may share condolences with the McCarley family at www.heritagechattanooga.com.