Mary Margaret Martin

Mary Margaret Murray Martin, a native of Pikeville, KY, longtime resident of Birmingham, AL, and resident of Clermont, FL, passed away in her home December 20, 2021.  She is preceded in death by her first husband of 43 years, William Hefley Martin; children Debra Kay Martin and Cheryl Ann Martin Porter; second husband of 18 years, James Lee Rice; brothers Neil and John T. Murray; sister Wanda Murray; and parents Charles Murray and Winnie Pinson Murray.

She is survived by daughter Barbara Martin Collins (David Belcher) of Mountain Brook, AL; stepson Randall Rice (Linda); stepdaughter Sharon Kochanowski (Robert); grandchildren Adalan Collins, Walker Collins, Laura Porter; step-grandchildren Alexis Belcher, Brent Rice, Christen Kauffman, Jacob Kochanowski; great-grandson Jackson Porter, and step-great-grandchildren Kellan, Lydia and MacKenzie Kauffman.

Mary Margaret was born in Chadron, Nebraska, and grew up in Pikeville, KY, where she graduated from Pikeville College then attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL.  Her Kentucky employment was with Judge Jean Auxier at the law firm of Sanders and Hyden; and also with the State of KY.  Upon moving to Mobile, AL, she held positions in the Internal Revenue Service with Walter Kidde Constructors of New York, and in the GSA Motor Pool.  She continued employment with the IRS while living in Atlanta, GA; then subsequently retired with the Social Security Administration while residing in Birmingham, AL.

Lovely, generous, intelligent and independent, Mary Margaret enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, and discussing politics.  She was passionate about literature, poetry, history and genealogy.  She was a member of Canterbury United Methodist Church, Birmingham, AL; First United Methodist Church, Clermont, FL; and the Pikeville, KY chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (68 years).  She was a kind, loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother; and a loyal friend to many.  She will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.

A private family memorial service was held, with burial in East Side Cemetery, Martin, TN.  Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Clermont (fumc-clermont.org; 950 7th Street, Clermont, FL  34711) or to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (% Karen Gibson, Treasurer, 4571 State Highway 194 W, Pikeville, KY  41501).