Ruralite Cafe: Published 07/18/02

By Rose Hooper - Features Editor

Dedicated to the memory of "Queen Martha"

Queen Martha, the Great Connector

One of her greatest attributes was how she made you feel like you were her best friend in the whole world. Most of you Cafe readers can identify with me for you, too, were her friend.

She would give me that eyes-over-the-glasses look - you know the one I mean, when I lovingly called her Queen Martha, the Great Connector.

Born and raised in Jackson County, she served as a connector between us natives and those who "got here as fast as they could." In any committee meeting, she was always the consensus builder. She also connected her own strong voice with those who felt like they didn't have a voice.

Martha was such a supportive and relentless advocate, but it was never about herself. Her torch bearing and tireless-to-the-end energies championed causes for other people. You may have been one of the many she championed for.

Like our friend whose husband had abandoned her with two small children and no money ­ not even enough to buy food that week. Martha, with her head wrapped in a scarf, came straight from chemo to take the deadbeat dad to court. Supporting herself by clinging to the wooden bench, she was weak in body but ever strong in advocacy. The judge ordered the husband financially responsible.

I remember the 15-year-old boy who was struggling in school, threatening to drop out and nobody was paying any attention to him. Nobody but Martha, that is. She understood his learning disability and placed him in an environment that better suited his educational needs.

She came faithfully to his school to personally tutor him. When his troubles at home only seemed to worsen, Martha welcomed him into her home, treating him like one of her own sons.

These are just two of the many individuals for whom Martha showed that "the system" could work for them. It makes me proud now when I see them volunteering with community projects because another thing they learned from Martha was the value of "giving back."

Monday night at the funeral home I was surprised at the assortment of Martha's friends. People I never connected with her were there, telling their own special Martha stories. As they talked, they smiled and laughed because you canıt tell a story about a woman who so embraced life without joy in your voice.

Many of us heard Martha say over and over how our county's greatest resource is its people. I think her greatest strength, what she will be remembered for throughout these mountains she loved so dearly, is how she cultivated, nourished, protected and connected Jackson Countyıs natural resources. What a legacy our Great Connector left us.

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