Martha Abshire

Martha Carol Mills Abshire, 60, of Jumping Branch, rose up to Heaven on the wings of Angels at the Bowerâ??s Hospice House on Saturday, April 18, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born April 24, 1948 at White Oak, to Elizabeth and the late Lacy Mills. Martha married Thomas Noel Abshire, March 23, 1974. They made their home at Jumping Branch. She was preceded in death by her father, Lacy F. Mills; sister, Ruth Ann Haynes; brother-in-law, Jim Trail Sr. and Parents-in-law, D.B. (Bee) and Ida Abshire. A Christian since childhood, she was a member of the Bluestone Baptist Church at Jumping Branch, an honor graduate of the Class of 1966 from Shady Spring High School. Martha worked several years for the C&P Telephone Co. at Beckley as well as the U.S. Post Office at Jumping Branch. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband of 35 years, Thomas N. â??Tommyâ?? Abshire; two daughters, Lisa Suzanne Wood and husband Jimmy and Sarah Kristi Abshire and one grandson, Jason Holden Abshire, all of Jumping Branch. She leaves behind one brother, Bob Mills and wife Alice of Grandview; four sisters, Mary Ellen Trail of Lebanon, VA; Inez Ewing and husband Curtis of Eagle Rock, VA; Nancy Howarth and husband Jerry of Charleston, SC and Susan Huffman and husband Roger of Shady Spring; brothers-in-law Thomas Haynes of Christiansburg, VA; Dr. Kyle Abshire and wife Margaret of Orange Park, FL. In addition she leaves behind many nephews, nieces and wonderful friends. Special and dear friends included Helema Jones of Mac Arthur and Venesia Clinebell of Jumping Branch. She will be sorely missed by her loyal and faithful companion, her dog, Bunny. The family would like to give a special thank-you to Dr. Rajiv Khanna, Dr. Amarinder Chhabra and the wonderful staff at Raleigh Regional Cancer Center, Bleckley Appalachian Regional Hospital and the Bower Hospice House for their caring and Compassionate care. Friends will gather with the family at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors in Hinton from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Monday, April 20th. The funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday April 21st at the Bluestone Baptist Church at Jumping Branch with Pastor Bill Fox officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour before the service time. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow service at the Abshire Family Cemetery, Jumping Branch.
Viewing Information: 6-8 P.M. Monday, April 20, 2009 at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors.
Funeral Information: 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at the Bluestone Baptist Church.