MaryAnn Martin

Chilhowie, Virginia

 MaryAnn Martin age 84 – a beautiful woman & light of God, left this earth for her Heavenly home, Monday, December 2, 2024. 

 MaryAnn Martin was an incredible woman. Born in New York in 1939 during a blizzard, thus began her passion for adventure, which continued to Texas & ultimately the mountains she loved in Southwest Virginia. It was while at the University of Texas in Austin she met the incredible & steadfast love of her life, Russell Martin. They married in 1961 & gave their three children an incredible, love filled & Christ centered home. Russell & MaryAnn’s partnership was beautifully unique. MaryAnn frequently said “I’m the dreamer & Russell is the doer.” Mary Ann loved Jesus, family, travel, gardening, baking, crafting, people, decorating & church ministry. When asked “MaryAnn, do you…” – she would quickly respond, “Yes!” before knowing where or what. She was always eager to lend a hand & freely opened her heart & home to anyone in need, never knowing a stranger. Even as dementia stole the strong woman we loved & admired, she was concerned about those devastated by Hurricane Helene & wanted to help – so she collected school supplies for the children that lost theirs in the floods. Mary Ann gave her life to Christ at age 24 & began teaching children’s Sunday school. She & Russell then worked in Youth Ministry for 20+ years. She volunteered in an International Ministry, teaching wives of university students to shop, cook & thrive in America. MaryAnn sang in the church choir, served as church clerk & volunteered at the local Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry. Even as I write this, I feel the need to ask mom for help. With her attention to detail, she was a talented editor & proofreader. She worked as a professional in the insurance & banking industries, before finding the dream job at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas. She also owned & operated MaryAnn’s Little Bakery. Eventually, Russell & MaryAnn pursued their dream of becoming Bed & Breakfast owners, buying a home in Chilhowie & restoring it to open the Pendleton House Inn. It was struck by lightning in 1996 & burned down. MaryAnn’s faith & trust in God kept her grounded as they rebuilt a log home on the same sight as the old house, with doors still open to family, friends & strangers. Our hearts are sad for our loss & for those that never got to know her.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, F.J.P. “Buddy” & Mary Meyer; two sisters, Joan Larranaga of Santiago, Chile & Deborah Griffith of Gonzales, Texas.

 MaryAnn is survived by her loving husband, the man who stood by her side through thick & thin, Russell Martin of Chilhowie, Va.; grateful children, Russell Martin II & wife, Melanie Anne of Loraine, Tx., Melanie Jones & husband, Tony of Marion, Va., Eric Martin & wife, Lori of Frostproof, Fla.; favorite grandchildren, Lindsey Martin, Whitney Cox, Alex Jones, Lauren Jones Stiltner & husband, Reid, Kyle Jones, Mahala Martin, Dakota Martin & Elan Martin; beloved great-grandchildren, Charlotte Esparza, Presley Cox, Melanie Grace Cox & Baby Cox due in March; dear siblings, Joe Meyer & wife, Judy of Tx., Liz DelCogliano of Fla. & Carol Finger & husband, Bob of Tx.; cherished family at Landmark Baptist Church; precious nieces, nephews & their families; special friends, Dee Miller, Caris Hospice & Healthcare Team & the staff of Chilhowie Drug.

 The family will receive friends Friday December 6, 2024 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Landmark Baptist Church, 34299 Lee Highway, Glade Spring, Va. 24340. Funeral services will begin at 7 p.m. with Pastor Dean Lundy officiating & will be lived streamed on the Landmark Baptist Church Glade Spring Virginia YouTube channel. Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Westwood Memorial Gardens, Chilhowie Va. Sons, Russell Martin II & Eric Martin will lead pall bearers, Dakota Martin, Elan Martin, Tony Jones, Kyle Jones, Reid Stiltner & Tim Jones. Family & friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.

 To share memories of MaryAnn Martin please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for MaryAnn has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Funeral Service & Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion VA 24354.