Tessie (Ward) Martin of Harrisburg

Tessie (Ward) Martin, 96, passed away Jan. 14, 2019 at Carrier Mills Nursing Home.

Tessie was born July 27, 1922 to Everett and Pearl (Langford) Ward. She was one of 11 siblings who lived with their parents in a three-room home in the area known as Walnut Grove.

In 1946, she married Herman Martin. He died on June 9, 1999. Tessie worked from many years at the Harrisburg Cap Factory and also did housekeeping with her sister-in-law Fern Horton for a few years. When her brother-in-law David Duke opened Duke's Carwash in Harrisburg, she was one of his first employees who helped dry the cars. She enjoyed making tips!

Her great passion in life was to take care of her children and grandchildren. Overnight visits to Grandma Tessie's were always a lot of fun for the grandchildren and for her. She put her faith and trust in Jesus in her early life and never strayed from her belief.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Ruby, Beaulah and Lucy, who died in their youth; her brothers Joe and John; and her sisters, Thelma Duke, Syble Gullett, Mabel Austin, Olia Wilson, and Eula Moore.

She is survived by her children, Patricia (Jim) Patterson from Galatia, Lyndell (Roberta) Martin, and Leslie (Terri) Martin from Harrisburg.

She also leaves behind the following grandchildren: Joni, Jamie and Jordan (Kacie) Paterson from Galatia, Miranda (Wade) Ratliff from Harrisburg, Jason (Melinda) Martin from Thompsonville, Amber Burnett, Ashleigh (Steve) Smothers from Harrisburg, and Alyssa (Seth) Cockrum from Galatia.

Also surviving are great-grandchildren Jade and Tristan Ratliff, Cassi Cotter, Mollie and Lucy Peterson, Mackenzie, Lincoln and Karsyn Patterson and Ali Joyner, Elliet and Hutch Cockrum, Kenzleigh and Maddux Smothers, Baleigh, Keenan, Jalyn and Kendall Martin, Noah and Cole Ferrell, Branson and Greysleigh Burnett, and great-great granddaughter Briar Smith.

Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan, 17, 2019 at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. The Rev. Mark Cockrum will officiate and burial will follow in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 at Reed Funeral Chapel.

Condolences may be sent to the family though the obituary page at www.reedfuneralchapel.com.