Martha’s story is one of faith, resilience, and deep compassion. A longtime Montgomery resident, she treasures the city’s small-town warmth and connections. Her 27-year career in community banking not only built her confidence but also taught her the importance of caring for others—a passion she carried into nearly two decades of service with Women of Hope, supporting women through breast cancer journeys. When Martha faced her own diagnosis, her faith and community gave her strength, transforming hardship into testimony. Married to Jim for 58 years, she credits laughter, support, and shared growth as the keys to their lasting bond. For her, “aging with purpose” means staying curious, grateful, and focused on what truly matters: faith, love, and giving yourself away.
BOOM: You’ve called Montgomery home for many years. What do you love most about being part of this community?
Martha: I love living in a large city with all the amenities, but it has a small-town feel. I enjoy the accessibility, and you can get across town quickly. The friendliness gives you a small-town feeling. You can’t go anywhere that you don’t run into someone you know from some aspect of your life. I love that you can go into a small boutique and they say, “We’ve been missing you, Martha.”
BOOM: You spent 27 years in community banking, a role that allowed you to walk alongside people in their best and most challenging moments. How did that career shape you?
Martha: My 27 years in banking and investments have certainly helped shape me into the person I am today. Walking into the bank without banking experience, I was relatively shy. I was eager to learn and knew I loved being with people, so it was the perfect career for me. I was fortunate to work in an established neighborhood with wonderful elderly people. I would often go to their homes to do their investments. The relationships began to form, and it became my mission to care for others. I frequently attended funerals, as it was more than a job to me.
As my career helped develop my confidence, I was able to dedicate 19 years of my time to helping raise funds for Women of Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to breast cancer awareness. My compassion is deeper, and the fact that I am an advocate and speak up for what I think is right comes from lessons I learned in banking.
BOOM: Your faith clearly plays a central role in your life. How has it guided you through both everyday living and life’s biggest challenges?
Martha: I have always thought how blessed I was to be born into a Christian family that attended church every Sunday and exemplified how to share what you had and love your neighbor. Even if it was just vegetables from the garden or a watermelon from the patch.
At the age of 12, I became ill with Rheumatic fever and spent much of the sixth grade on a cot in the back of the classroom. I never thought I would live, but through the illness I experienced, God’s provision and healing, and the love from so many people. Recently, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and once again experienced God’s presence in mighty ways. I have discovered that when the big challenges come, that is when His presence is seen more fully and completely. We serve a mighty God.
BOOM: You’ve been married to Jim for 58 years. What’s the secret to growing together and still “living big” after all these years?
Martha: Allow your love to grow and support each other as you each change along the way. Try new things together. Have give and take. Know the other so well you supply their needs without them asking. Don’t take everything so seriously. Remember the hard times and how you got through them. Laugh and kid each other and hold hands a lot.
BOOM: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and after supporting others for nearly two decades, you recently faced breast cancer yourself. How did that change your perspective?
Martha: I have experienced breast cancer close up and now understand the terminology better. I know what it is like to go through tests and await results, and I know how to be more empathetic with others. I am able to share my personal journey to help another along the way and be a more powerful witness.
BOOM: You once found yourself supporting women through Women of Hope, and now you’ve been “sitting at the table” with them. What has it meant to walk both sides of that journey?
Martha: For years, I have heard about breast cancer and learned head knowledge. Experiencing it is a totally different story. I am a giver, and it has been a different experience to receive so much from so many. I’m very grateful. I’ve experienced it from my heart now and not just my head.
BOOM: You’ve said your friend Patti called the day of your mastectomy “the worst day of your life, but also the best.” How has that moment shaped the way you see God’s presence in hardship?
Martha: Patti said this after I expressed all the blessings I received from so many on the day of surgery. Ministers, doctors, nurses, family, Sunday School class, and friends were so supportive and loving. I take all the special words and care I received that day and hold each one in my mind and heart. God made what could have been the worst day of my life to be the best day of my life.
BOOM: Women of Hope has been a big part of your life for 19 years. For readers who may not know, what does the organization do, and how can it help women facing breast cancer?
Martha: If you hear of someone recently diagnosed, please tell them about WOH. Ask permission from the newly diagnosed, and a survivor will contact them and arrange a canvas bag delivery filled with goodies and information useful for their journey. We are available to walk alongside them during their journey. One of the main things WOH offers is a monthly support group, held at Frazer Church on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30. A healthcare professional or a survivor will share their inspiring story. We share a light meal prior to meeting, and much support happens around the table. We have events throughout the year, especially in October. We are a non-profit, so any money received goes for our mission, and no one is paid.
BOOM: What’s one story or experience from Women of Hope that stands out as especially meaningful to you?
Martha: The story that stands out in my mind was the first event of Women of Hope, a fashion show and meal held at a local restaurant. Maria Ashmore, the founder of WOH, spoke of her lonely breast cancer journey and how she envisioned a support group so no one would have to walk this path alone. Although I wasn’t a survivor then, I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization that was being formed and give of my time. I had lost a cousin at a young age to breast cancer, and it had impacted my life, and my friend, Patti, with whom I worked at the bank, had recently been diagnosed. Nineteen years later, my passion is still strong for the mission of WOH as I see how many lives are touched and changed for the better. Advancements in breast cancer treatments have come a long way in these 19 years.
BOOM: How can our readers support Women of Hope or get involved, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
Martha: Much emphasis is placed on this dreaded disease during the month of October. There will be a significant focus on valuable information and numerous events to educate the public. One in eight will get a diagnosis, and that increases to one in six as you age. Early detection is extremely important, and one of the primary missions of WOH is to educate. In October, we have a local oncologist to come and speak at our meeting at Frazer about the latest information on breast cancer. My advice is to become informed and be an advocate for breast cancer, and contact us if you have a family member or friend diagnosed. We also have volunteers who haven’t had breast cancer come along and support us with their attendance at events and meetings. We call them our encouragers. You can also support us financially, as all money goes directly to our mission.
BOOM: You and Jim stay active socially, even traveling with the 60+ Golf Association. How important is community and staying connected at this stage of life?
Martha: One of my goals when I retired was to meet new friends, and that is what we have done with the 60+ Golf Association. We travel to various cities to play golf and socialize together. These are wonderful people we would have never known if not for our common interest.
BOOM: During the COVID-19 pandemic, you picked up painting and have now created hundreds of cards to encourage others. What do you enjoy most about this new hobby?
Martha: Watercolors bring me joy, relaxation, and fulfillment as I hopefully lift another with my little doodles. Watercolors helped me through a difficult time in my life and have now become a part of who I am today. We are never too old to learn something new. I recently painted over 25 for my classmates as we met for a reunion. Life is all about giving yourself away.
BOOM: You even started writing letters to your grandson, Jack, and now to your whole family. What do those letters mean to you, and what do you hope they mean to them?
Martha: I started writing a Christmas letter to our only grandson when he was five. It meant so much to him that he jumped into my arms, and we both had tears. I decided to expand this little Christmas project, and it has now become a family tradition. It is amazing the love felt in the room as the letters are opened and read individually. It goes to show that it is the little things that matter. I hope this tradition is carried on down the road. I hope someone reading this will be inspired to start this tradition in their family. The blessings will flow, I promise you.
BOOM: You’ve said some people age and feel they’ve “done everything,” but that’s not you. What keeps you curious and eager to keep living fully?
Martha: Life is so full of adventure. Just open your eyes and your heart as you go out into the world each day. Be unafraid to be your unique self. When I meet a new person and we just hit it off and have deep conversations, I often call them divine appointments. Life is a beautiful tapestry. One side is a mess, but flip it over and it is beautiful.
BOOM: Finally, what does “aging with purpose” mean to you — especially now, after facing breast cancer and continuing to give back so generously?
Martha: Don’t let bumps in the road get you off track. Look at it as a learning moment and don’t let it define you. Be positive and grateful for each day. I think my motto is: Keep the main thing the main thing. We all have to determine what that is to each one of us.
Lightning Round with Martha
- Best advice you’ve heard or said. Persistence wears down resistance.
- One thing you never leave home without. Lip Stick
- Favorite local restaurant. Sinclair’s
- One song that lifts your spirits. Believe by Brooks and Dunn.
- Dream trip still on your list. Family vacation (anywhere). Destination is not important, just time together.
- Best part of being a grandmother. Seeing the growth in my grandson in many different areas: character, manners, work ethic, spiritually, and honoring his heritage,
- Favorite way to spend a Saturday. Sharing TV time with my husband, watching a golf tournament
- Three words friends would use to describe you. Compassionate, advocate, and encourager.
We want to thank Martha for sharing her story with us this month. If you have comments or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please text Jason Watson at 334.328.5189 or email jason@riverregionboom.com.