Martha Anne (Clark) Elliott

Martha Anne Clark Elliott lived her faith in a beautifully scriptural way. She was like "a tree firmly planted beside streams of water, that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." Her life also reflected the words of Proverbs: "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

Her children do indeed rise up and call her blessed. Her grandchildren have always been confident in their Grandmama's unwavering love for them. Her husband, Floyd, especially treasured Martha Anne, nurtured her endeavors and loved her tenderly all of their 64 years of marriage. He says, “She was easy to love.” To all of us who knew her, Martha Anne embodied the fruit of the Spirit, beginning with love.

She loved her parents, Niles Craig and Agnes Anderson Clark of Waterloo, South Carolina. She loved her siblings and was proud of them, boasting of Niles Craig’s, Evelyn’s and George’s varied accomplishments in life. She loved others from an early age, beginning with her childhood friend Louise. She loved others at college, where she was smitten by a substitute Calculus instructor named Floyd Elliott, who was a young engineer on loan to Winthrop College from Douglas Aircraft. Her regular professor jokingly predicted that she would either marry the substitute or earn an A in the class—she did not get an A.

As a Medical Technologist, she loved and cared for her patients. As a young wife and mother, she poured that same love into Floyd and their children. The source of that love was her deep confidence in the love of Christ. As a young woman, she worried that she might somehow lose her salvation. But in her twenties, she came to understand that absolutely nothing could snatch her from the hand of Jesus or separate her from His love. That assurance brought her tremendous freedom and gave her a renewed passion for loving and serving others.

She became a women's ministry leader in her local Methodist church, and later she and Floyd helped start an independent Community Bible Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Martha Anne's life did not always unfold the way she expected. She used to say that she never wanted to be a pastor's wife. She could imagine marrying a man in almost any profession—even a missionary—but never a pastor. Yet when her engineer husband sensed God's call to attend Dallas Theological Seminary and become a pastor, she joyfully yielded to God's leading, even though it meant becoming exactly what she had once said she never wanted to be.

With three young children and a husband in seminary, money was tight and life was demanding. Yet she met those years with remarkable joy and much prayer, if not always with perfect skill. She took her family swimming, filled their home with wonderful books, hosted Five-Day Club Summer Bible Schools, and trusted God daily to provide for every need. She greatly extended her detailed knowledge of the Bible through Bible Study Fellowship. Meanwhile, her mentor, Elaine Getz, encouraged Martha Anne that God wasn’t calling her to be someone else’s vision of what a pastor’s wife should be. What a freeing gift!

When Floyd became pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, Martha Anne became an indispensable partner in that ministry. During those years, she and Judy Wimberly initiated a small prayer group who faithfully prayed for one another, their families, and God's work in their lives. Remarkably, more than 45 years later, that group is still praying weekly as the “Monday Night Prayer Group”. While age has naturally slowed them down, they have never stopped praying for one another.

Martha Anne treasured relationships. More than anything, she wanted her children to genuinely love and enjoy one another. Melissa, Adrienne, and David grew into a close-knit family marked by affection, laughter, and enduring friendship. They try to maintain her example as she often went on a “quest” all over town for the perfect gift or arranged over-the-top fun like a coveted Star Wars trilogy type movie marathon—a legacy that reflected the love and intentionality she and Floyd modeled in their home.

Later, Floyd transitioned to a role as a counselor with the Center for Church Renewal, and it seemed that Martha Anne's years as a pastor's wife had come to an end. But God had other plans.

She went on to serve as Director of Women's Ministries at what is now Chase Oaks Church, where she faithfully invested in the lives of countless women for many years. She was deeply enriched by the camaraderie with the Women's Ministry team & Chase Oaks staff. She was supported by the gifted organizers, dazzled by the talented decorators and artists, and endlessly amused by the lighthearted pranksters. One favorite story tells of someone placing a frog in her bed, prompting Martha Anne to retaliate by "short sheeting" their bed. Her love for laughter was woven into her life, enabling her to deflect criticism with grace, face challenges with cheerfulness, and build joyful, lasting relationships with others.

She concluded her ministry tenure as a Visitation Pastor at Chase Oaks, a role that beautifully united her medical background, her deep compassion for people, and her unwavering devotion to Christ. In every season of her life, she found joy in caring for others and faithfully pointing them to the hope and love of Jesus.

Her love for people was not confined to an official ministry position. She loved people wherever she went. Even after she retired, she greatly enjoyed being a Mentor mom for young moms' groups and always encouraged her daughters in their role as moms. She would regularly stop to pray with anyone in need, even strangers, and always made a point of encouraging the cooks and servers in every restaurant she visited. It was remarkable to walk into a random fast-food restaurant with her and watch employees come out from the kitchen to hug and greet her by name. That was simply Martha Anne living out her faith through love.

There was one thing she often said she never wanted: dementia. She hoped that her body would wear out before her mind did. Yet when that became part of her story, she still entrusted herself cheerfully to God's sovereign care. She turned to Psalm 31:15 saying, "My times are in Your hands." Even in the final chapter of her life, she trusted the Lord she had loved faithfully for so many years.

Throughout this difficult season, our family witnessed God's faithfulness to her. Though her memories faded, her joy and love endured. We were deeply blessed by the kindness, compassion, and skill of wonderful people we never would have known were it not for our need. God's many mercies were manifested to us through treasured caregivers from Home Instead, Harris Hospice and Our Cottage who remarked about the peacefulness of our home and the devoted love between Floyd and Martha Anne.

Martha Anne is survived by her loving husband, Floyd Elliott; her siblings Evelyn Lorenz and George Clark; her sisters-in-law, Ruth Clark and Mary McIntosh; her children, Melissa (Rex) Glazner, Adrienne (David) Norvell, and David Elliott; her grandchildren, Marietta Glazner, Logan Glazner, James Godowa (Glazner), Dallas Glazner, Graham Glazner, Kim Godowa (Glazner), Carolina Glazner, Amanda Norvell, Emily Norvell, and Benjamin Norvell; and her great-grandson, Phoenix Odell Wood.

Martha Anne was a loving and joyful light to so many, deeply cherished by all who knew her. She will always be remembered for her joyful spirit, steadfast faith, and the vibrant love she shared so freely with others.

Martha Anne's life reminds us that the fruit of a life rooted in Christ is not measured by accomplishments or titles, but by faithful love. She loved because Christ first loved her. She trusted because He is faithful. Firmly planted beside the living water, her life bore lasting fruit that continues to bless everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

If Martha Anne could leave one final message, it would be this: know that Jesus loves you faithfully and completely. Through Him, you can experience the joy of a relationship with God and the hope of eternal life. That enduring hope was the foundation of Martha Anne's life, and it is the legacy she would most want to share.

There will be a Celebration of Martha Anne's life at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Allen Family Funeral Options. If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: