Martha Johnson

Martha was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Lydia and Virgil Robertson on January 23, 1949, joining older sister Ginny, who doted on her, from babyhood until the day she passed. Nicknamed “Totsy” for her petite frame, Martha was an affectionate, mischievous, feisty child who enjoyed pestering Ginny, playing with cousins and caring for a colony of feral cats who resided on the family’s farm.

After her family relocated to Nashville, Tenn., she joined the 4th grade class at Ransom Elementary, where she made numerous lifelong friends, including future husband Mark, who in the sixth grade jokingly asked her to marry him. Though the proposal seemed insignificant at the time, it later became family lore, marking the beginning of a true love story. In repeating the story, Mark often remembered her being “as cute as can be, with pink cheeks and blond curls.” Martha would then remind him that on their first official date—trick-or-treating on Halloween—he had refused to lend her his jacket when she got cold. Happily, Mark became better at sharing as their relationship grew, and they continued dating through high school (West End High School) and college until they married on August 12, 1972. Daughters Sara and Laura soon joined them, completing their family. Together, Martha and Mark built a loving home, built on their commitment to God, each other and their daughters.

Martha had a multitude of interests: She loved long talks with friends, crafting, decorating her home, reading, cozy pajamas, Sunday morning services at Ashland City Free Will Baptist church, going out to dinner and the movies, British television shows and any content about World War 2. Above all, she adored her family: Mark, Sara, Laura (Scott) and her grandchildren, Nora, Roan, Luca, Grace and Cristian. To that end, she was tireless in her efforts to create a warm and happy home for them. Martha made dinners delicious, holidays magical, birthdays sweet, bedtimes calm, errands an adventure and sick days better. She soothed hurts, laughed easily and often, and was a constant source of love and encouragement and a fierce advocate for her friends and family.

Though deeply pained by her loss, Martha’s family is grateful for each precious moment they shared with her.

Her family would like to thank the many friends and family who have supported them, delivering food, sending cards and prayers, driving long distances to lend a hand, visiting and so much more, as well as Heather and Toni (Alive Hospice) for the abundant compassion and care they have provided and Martha’s home healthcare nurse Marquita, who looked after her with such gentle concern. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Alive Hospice, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Research or Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center.