Ethel Swaim Martin

Boonville Mrs. Ethel Mae Swaim Martin, 97, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 03, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Martin was born June 16, 1917 in Forsyth County to John and Carrie Cook Swaim. She was a devoted member of Fall Creek Baptist Church and Harmony Grove Friends Meeting. She loved her church and her Sunday school class. Mrs. Martin retired from Pepsi after 10 years of service. Mrs. Martin loved the Lord and faithfully served Him throughout her life. She had a great love for her family and cared for everyone she met. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and doing something special for the grandchildren. Mrs. Martin loved working in her flowers and garden and she was well known for her kind compassionate heart. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her loving husband, Fred Washington Martin; and seven siblings, Grace Lee (Beecher) Shore, Ruby (Virgil) Gobble, Bessie ( Lee) Holcomb, Ruth (Marvin) Smith, Nettie (George) Dobbins, Ernest (Edith) Swaim, and Melvin (Ethel) Swaim. She is survived by a son, Donnie (Wanda) Martin; two daughters, Betty (Robert) Hodge and Carol Miller; seven grandchildren, Bob (Robin) Hodge, Gena (Doug) Knighten, Tena (Van) Williams, Jamie (Gina) Chappell, Andy (Tarinda) Chappell, Mickey (Melissa) Martin, and Amanda (Doug) Yarboro; four great grandchildren, Andrew Hodge, Adam Hodge, Amber (Josh) Prince, and Drew Chappell; a brother-in-law, Avery Sykes; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Ruth Kietner, Glenn Roberts, and Thyra Wagoner. A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 4:00PM at Harmony Grove Friends Meeting with Chaplain Greg Anderson and Rev. JP Sizemore officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harmony Grove Friends Meeting Cemetery Fund, PO Box 25, Yadkinville, North Carolina 27055. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of Mtn. Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, and also to her faithful and loving caregivers, Maudie Long and Tamara Kirkbride for all the love, care, and support shown to Mrs. Martin.