Martha Jack Wallace

Martha Jeanne Wallace (née Jack), affectionately known as Baby, passed away on July 26, 2026, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 94. Born on November 21, 1931, in Little Rock, Arkansas. The family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts when she was a toddler but returned to Arkansas where she grew up in North Little Rock. She graduated from North Little Rock High School. She went on to attend Texas College for Women where she graduated in 1953. After graduating from college, while working as a secretary, she met James “Jim” Price Wallace. They were married September 18, 1954, in Little Rock, Arkansas and remained married until Jim’s death in 2017.

After marriage, Jim and Martha moved to Houston, Texas where Jim attended Law School at the University of Houston in their night school program. Martha worked as a secretary then taught at Travis Elementary School in the Woodland Heights in Houston, Texas while Jim worked for an insurance company during the day and attended law school at night.

Jim and Martha were blessed with three children, James P. Wallace Jr., Timothy Jack Wallace, and Jill Wallace.

She loved the term domestic engineer and thus that is what she became. (She even had business cards printed with that title.) She was the engineer that drove the train for both her children and her husband ‘s life. Her husband Jim Wallace decided to enter the political arena in the 1960s. Martha drove that political train with Jim from the Texas State Senate to the Texas Supreme Court. There were stops in Harris County at the 215th District Court and the1st Court of Appeals. As the engineer of the train, she worked long hard hours to get that train to Austin, Texas.

She supported her children in all their endeavors. She taught all of her children how to play baseball. (A sport she truly loved) but always encouraged them in whatever sport or activity they chose. If there was an event, she would attend it.

Martha was an active member of the PTA in her children’s schools. Attended Baptist Temple where she and Jim taught Sunday School for many years. She was also the coach for the girls' softball team at Baptist Temple. Her most beloved organization in Houston was the Lioness Club, an affiliate of the Lion’s Club. Raising money for sight impaired children.

When the train arrived in Austin from Houston, Martha looked again for a way to contribute to the community. She chose the Settlement Home. It was a perfect fit. Raising money for children and meeting another strong group of women. She attended Riverbend Church, taking great pleasure in attending Sunday School and Church.

Also, with the arrival of the train in Austin, golf came. Martha became an avid player. She and Jim were members of Barton Creek Country Club where a lot of golf was played, though; she would play many other courses in many other places.

She was a strong woman who encouraged others to be strong. She believed that humor was the best way to live and look at life. She had many friends and always enjoyed their company. She blessed many people with her love and humor. She will be missed.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, James and Wilsie Jack, her sister, Anne Carter Baker, her brother Donald Thompson Jack, her beloved husband, James P. Wallace, her cherished son Timothy Jack Wallace and her grandson, Zachary Wallace.

She is survived by her loving family: her son, James Price Wallace Jr., and his wife Lisa Wallace. Daughter, Jill Wallace Buchanan, and her husband Daryl Buchanan; grandchildren, Kimberly Wallace Stewart, and her husband Brad Stewart, Allison Wallace Juarez, and her husband Jeremy Juarez, James Price Wallace III and his wife Janice Wallace, and Caileigh Buchanan; and great-grandchildren, Weston Juarez, Harper Stewart, Presley Stewart, James Price Wallace IV, Sebastian Juarez, Ophelia Juarez, Kyllian Juarez and Josie Wallace.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Querencia Barton Creek, for the outstanding care Martha received for the 18 years she lived there. She loved each of them. Not only did they serve her meals, clean her room, do her hair, accept her packages, answer her questions, take care of her medical and physical needs, they provided her with the joy of knowing them and what was going on in their lives. And of course, they were kind enough to laugh at her endless supply of jokes.

Services to Celebrate Martha's life will be held August 25, 2026 at 10:30 am at Riverbend Church Chapel, 4214 N. Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, Texas, 78746. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Settlement Home 1600 Payton Gin Rd, Austin, TX 78758 , a cause close to Martha's heart. Her legacy of warmth, wit, and generosity will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her.