Martha Frances Henry

MATTHEWS, NC - Mrs. Martha Frances Henry, 95, passed away peacefully in the presence of her loved ones on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, 2022 at Gaskin Funeral Services, 14617 Lawyers Road, Matthews, NC. Interment will follow at Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery in Marshville.

Mrs. Henry was born May 17, 1927 in Union County, NC and was the daughter of the late Clayton and Kate Baker Allen. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John Robert “Bobby” Henry, and her husband, John Edgar Henry.

Martha and her husband, John, built a beautiful life during their 69 years of marriage. Together, they raised three children. Martha led many roles throughout her life, working as a telephone operator, store clerk, church nursery staff, school cafeteria staff, and school bus driver. Her primary focus was maintaining the home. Martha and John were always active in their church, most recently First Baptist Church of Charlotte. Everyone knew Martha loved to cook and if they were lucky, they got to try her homemade biscuits one Sunday after church. Martha craved spending time outside in her garden growing vegetables to can or cook, as well as flowers. She was also a talented seamstress. At one time, she made much of her family’s clothing. Her many hobbies never overshadowed that family was Martha’s priority. Every holiday, she encouraged being together and loved to reminisce about old family stories and heirlooms. Time together was her love language.

Martha is survived by her children, Charles Eric Lyons and Janice Kate McCarn; grandchildren, Heather Lyons, April Ghul, Marcia Folnsbee, Kyle Emert, John Robert Henry, Jr., Christina Henry, and Joshua Henry; and great-grandchildren, Talia Ghul, Lucas Folnsbee, Cohen Folnsbee, Kristian Emert, Kolten Emert, Aubrey Henry, Joshua Henry, Jr and Azryn Henry.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P. O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 ( samaritanspurse.org )