Mrs. Martha Jane Waters Owens

Martha Jane Waters Owens was born March 10, 1924 in Gateswood, Al to Stanley M. Waters and Virginia Jernigan Waters. She was the sixth of Stanley and Virginia’s eleven children. As a child Martha was given the nickname, “Puff” by her siblings, and the moniker stuck throughout her life. Martha grew up working on her family’s farm, attending Belle Fountain School in Gateswood, and taking care of her younger brothers and sisters. In 1942 Martha married Charles M. Owens of Dothan, Al. When Charles returned from WWII the two resided in Dothan during the early years of their marriage where their daughters, Linda Dianne and Mary Virginia were born. The family later moved to Prichard, Al for about 20 years where Martha babysat many children out of her home; especially Debbie, Ronnie, Michael, and Mark Wright. The Owens later moved to Chickasaw, Al for about 19 years. In 1991 Charles and Martha permanently moved into their retirement home on the bay in Fort Morgan, Al. They were married for 64 years until Charles’s death in 2006. Martha always loved being active in her community, her church and with her big extended family. She enjoyed keeping house and cooking, and could make the best cookies, pies, gumbo, and yellow grits you ever tasted. Martha also got a kick out of a good prank or joke, and often played them on her siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She was an excellent story-teller and could regale folks for hours with detailed yarns from her childhood and adolescence. Martha was a member of the Fort Morgan Ladies Auxillary and Shell Banks Baptist Church. Along with her husband, Charles, and her mother and father, Martha is preceded in death by her brothers, Lincoln Lamar Waters, Stanley Laverne “Worm” Waters, Edwin Quint “EQ” Waters, Weston Waters, John Quincy Waters; sister, Catherine “Kitty” Waters Hellmich; siblings-in-law, Bea Waters, Pat Waters, Jean Waters, Kay Waters, Frank Hellmich, Elmer Peterson and Charlie Wilder, and son-in-law, Rex D. Gibson. Martha is survived by her daughters, Linda Dianne Owens Gibson of Saraland and Mary Virginia Owens Sparks and son-in-law, William C. “Sparky” Sparks Jr. of Gateswood; brother, Herbert Waters of Pine Grove; sisters, Philena “Doll” Waters Peterson of Bay Minette, Susie Waters Wilder and Lavone “Sweet” Waters Hinesley (Howard) both of Fort Morgan; sister-in-law, Hazel Owens Cannon of Tavares, Fl; grandchildren, Shelly Sparks Young (Tim) of Irmo, SC, Melanie Sparks Smith (Rod) of Seneca, SC, Michelle Gibson (Eddie) of Citronelle, Rex Gibson Jr. of Louisiana, Scottie Vest (Rochelle) of Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Raleigh D. Norris of Jacksonville, Fl, Rayne W. Norris of Irmo, SC, soon-to-be Charlotte M. Smith of Seneca, SC; and countless nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Martha was able to live out the final years of her life in the bay cottage she loved so much because of the unwavering 24/7 care and love her daughters, Dianne and Mary provided her; along with the visits and meals provided by her sisters, Susie and Sweet. The family would also like to thank the wonderful sitters and nurses of Comfort Keepers, Kindred Home Health and Kindred Hospice. Services will be held at Hamilton Baptist Church in Gateswood Saturday, July 6, 2019. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and the funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will immediately follow at Clear Springs Cemetery in Gateswood. Memorials may be made to: Hamilton Baptist Church Building Fund at 32815 Co. Rd. 112 Robertsdale, Al 36567 or Clear Springs Cemetery Fund c/o Buddy Barnett at 28555 Co. Rd. 112 Robertsdale, Al 36567

Mrs. Martha Jane Waters Owens

March 10, 1924 - July 1, 2019