Obituaries » MARTHA ROSE WASHINGTON
PrintMARTHA ROSE WASHINGTON
August 2, 1942 - November 8, 2023
Burial Date: November 18, 2023
Visitation will be held Friday, November 17, 2023 at Jackson - Highley Funeral Home Chapel, West Helena Arkansas from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at C.V. White High School Gymnasium, Lakeview Arkansas. Interment will follow immediately at Morning Star Cemetery, Elaine Arkansas. We will follow CDC guidelines: mask, hand sanitizer, and the social distance standard of 6ft apart.
Mrs. Martha Washington was born August 2, 1942, in Mellwood, Arkansas, to the late Maryze Gathings and Aunte Rose. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by Reverend F. A. Simpson at Zion Traveler Missionary Baptist Church in Mellwood. She relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and upon returning home, she returned to her home church under the leadership of Reverend James Lamb. While there, she faithfully served on the Usher Board and later as a Church Mother.
Martha attended Elaine Industrial School in Elaine, Arkansas, where she completed her education and eventually relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where she was a member of various social organizations, including the infamous Millionaires Club. While in Chicago, Martha married Walter Washington, with whom she enjoyed many years of marriage before she was widowed. As a homemaker, Martha devoted her time and life to her family, frequently returning home to Arkansas to visit family and hosting many relatives in her home in Chicago. After residing in Chicago for over 40 years, Martha eventually returned home to Arkansas, where she enjoyed a quiet retired life and reconnected with lifelong friends. She enjoyed spending time with her family, fishing, and attending church.
Martha, fondly known as “Margie,” was a loving daughter, sister, mother, cousin, aunt, and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her only daughter; Larester Rose, four brothers; Ricky Rose, Woody McDaniel, Calvin Rose, James “Stanley” Rose, seven sisters; Glenda Rose, Hattie Rose, Emma Rose Gavin, Narvella Rose Little, Monine Rose Arter, Patrica Rose-Swanigan, and Evelyn McDaniel Knowlton.
She departed from this life on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She was loved by many and has left to cherish her memories, her only son, Wendell McClinton (Faye Coleman), four grandchildren; Cassie Smith of Helena- West Helena Arkansas, Shamia Jordan of Maumelle Arkansas, Megan Coleman of Memphis Tennessee, Ethan McClinton of Mosby Arkansas, two sisters; Laverne Rose Bobo of DeKalb Illinois, Shirley Rose (Dan Tony Davis) of Lakeview Arkansas, one brother-in-law; Costell Little of Clinton South Carolina, two sisters-in-law; Clementine Rose of Chicago Illinois, Gwendolyn McDaniel of Atlanta Georgia, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
