Martha was born in Charlotte, NC to Mattie Bell and Jessie Thornton on December 9, 1929.

Memorial Services will be 11am on May the 15th, 2019 at Marshville United Methodist Church.  Interment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.

To the glory of God, Martha retired from First Citizens Bank, Fayetteville, NC, where she served as a branch manager for 29 years. When Bryce retired from Cumberland County Tax Department, he and Martha moved to Wingate, NC in order to be closer to extended family members. Martha's sister, Linda, faithfully opened her heart and home for holiday meals and fellowship. Martha and Bryce enjoyed a period of near perfect contentment together as they enjoyed God's creation, relaxed, kept their two granddaughters, spent time with family and friends, and just had fun together. Martha considered it God's greatest blessing in this life to be married to the love and light of her life, Bryce Covington Nelson, for 44 years.

Martha was a faithful member of Christ's body, always delighting to serve Him. She loved children and taught 5th grade Sunday School in each church in which God placed her: Charlotte, Hope Mills, and Marshville. Martha also loved producing dramas - several dozen in Charlotte and Hope Mills - convinced that this fulfilling ministry opened the door for God to work His magic in many hearts.

After Bryce's death, Martha's brother, Glenn, lived with and cared for Martha with the greatest attention to detail.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bryce, and their son, Lee Edward Nelson; also preceding Martha were her siblings, Frank, Bill, "Sonny," Patsy Blakemore, and Patsy's son, Jay.
Martha is survived by Bryce's son, Bobby Morello of Cincinnati, Ohio; her beloved siblings and their spouses respectively: Donald Thornton of Indian Trail; Linda Cagle of Belmont, NC; Robert Glenn Thornton of Wingate, NC; Sandra and Monty Hileman of Indian Trail, NC. Martha is also survived by three beloved grand-daughters: Samantha Davis and Michael of Elgin, SC; Destiny Marie Gardner of Elgin, SC; Haleigh Dozier of Camden, SC; and by many beloved nieces and nephews.