Martha Lacewell
Mrs. Martha Lacewell, age 83, of Almo, Ky., passed away Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at the Baptist Health of Paducah.
She was born on February 14, 1941, in Fulton to the late Joe Weaks and Luella Brashears Weaks. The eldest daughter of two deaf parents, she learned the value of hard work and determination at a young age. Sign language, and helping deaf individuals lead more fulfilling lives, became a lifelong endeavor dear to her heart.
Martha was a 1959 graduate of South Fulton High School, where she was Valedictorian. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1970, and earned her master’s degree in organizational communications in 1991 from Murray (Ky.) State University. Martha was truly a lifelong learner and never afraid to try new things.
Among her many professional accomplishments, Martha owned a Pre-School in South Fulton, was a Home Economics Teacher for the Fulton City School District and served as a Free-Lance Home Economist. She also had worked for the former Ferry-Morse Seed Company in Fulton, was also a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Tennessee Department of Human Resources in Union City, and finally worked as a Student Support Services Counselor for Dyersburg State Community College. Just when she thought her working days were over, she and Harry moved to Murray, Ky., and she served as an interpreter for deaf students in several western KY school districts.
Over her career, Martha was involved in several Professional and Civic Groups: Adult Literacy Council Board Member, Adult Literacy Council President, Leadership Obion County 1996, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, American Association of Women in Community Colleges Treasurer and President, DSCC and Nom-inated to Who’s Who among America’s Teachers Year of 2000.
While Martha enjoyed her various careers, her true pride and joy was her family. She loved traveling with Harry before his passing, and spending time with her children and grandchildren … and they loved spending time with her. In her free time, she would tend to her various flower gardens or simply enjoy feeding and watching her precious hummingbirds. She was truly a lover of life, and was a positive Christian influence to those lucky enough to have met her.
She lived her entire life in the West Tennessee and western Kentucky area, as she and Harry lived in South Fulton, Troy and Murray, Ky.
She was a member of several Churches of Christ during her lifetime, most recently as a member of the University Church of Christ in Murray.
She is survived and will be dearly missed by two sons, Dr. Stephen Kent (Melissa) Lacewell of Murray, Ky., and Andrew Cecil (Shelley) Lacewell of Medina; four grandchildren, Taryn Lacewell of Murray, Ky., Greyson Lacewell of Murray, Ky., and Spencer Lacewell and Trevor Lacewell, both of Medina; and a sister, Bonnie McAlister of Franklin.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Lacewell.
Funeral services were held 3 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Hornbeak Fun-eral Chapel, with burial following in the Obion County Memorial Gardens. Visitation was held at the funeral home from 1 p.m. Saturday until the hour of service.
Memorials may be made to New Pathways for Children, P.O. Box 10, Melber, KY 42069.
Published in The Messenger 9.11.24