Obituary for Edith Martin Derr
John 11:26 " Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Mrs. Edith Martin Derr, was born in Stokes County, N. C. on April 14, 1925, and was the daughter of the late Isaiah P. Martin and Ardella Stickland Martin. She passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Iredell Memorial Hospital She was married to Wilmer Nathaniel Derr for thirty-three years and he preceded her in death on April 29, 1984.
She was a graduate of Madison High School in Madison, NC, Winston-Salem Teacher's College, which is now Winston-Salem State University and Columbia University. She taught in the Taylorsville Schools and the former Statesville City Schools for thirty-four years, and worked tirelessly after retirement at Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, First Legacy Credit Union, The United States Post Office, among other places. She also volunteered at the American Red Cross, Davis Hospital. She was an active member of Scotts Chapel United Methodist Church, where she was chairwoman of the Finance Committee, a delegate to conference, church stenographer, Sunday School teacher, among other offices.
She was dedicated to, and possessed, a deep love of family. She delighted in attending family gatherings and reunions and always offered a shoulder to lean on and a sympathetic ear for them. She always lent a hand, wherever the need arose. Though she did not have a favorite team, she was also a sports fan, particularly baseball and football. Edith Derr loved people and always found ways to give of herself. As with her family, she went where the need arose and provided assistance. This was an integral part of who she was.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Cora Helen Carelock, Lillie Myrtle Martin Nelson and a brother, Isaiah Edward Martin.
She leaves to cherish the memory of her life a daughter, Lydia P. Derr of the home; a brother, Flunell Martin of Winston-Salem; three sisters, Catherine Martin Thurston and Lenora Martin Washington, both of Winston-Salem and Creola M. Martin of Columbia, S.C.; a godchild, Bernadine Yourse Minor of Georgia; special god children, Rev. and Mrs. Alexander (Tommie) Person, Jr. of Colorado; special friends, Mason and Inez McCullough of Statesville; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, the Scotts Chapel Church Family, neighbors and friends.
It is true,
I was created in you.
It is also true,
That you were created for me.
I owned your voice,
It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.
Your arms were molded,
Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.
The scent of your body was the air,
Perfumed for me to breathe.
By Maya Angelou - From MOTHER: A Cradle to Hold Me
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Christian Outreach of the Piedmont. Mrs. Derr will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home until taken to the church to lie in state at 11:30 a.m. Members of the family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m., but will assemble at the residence at other times.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Derr at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Derr Family.
Mrs. Edith Martin Derr, was born in Stokes County, N. C. on April 14, 1925, and was the daughter of the late Isaiah P. Martin and Ardella Stickland Martin. She passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Iredell Memorial Hospital She was married to Wilmer Nathaniel Derr for thirty-three years and he preceded her in death on April 29, 1984.
She was a graduate of Madison High School in Madison, NC, Winston-Salem Teacher's College, which is now Winston-Salem State University and Columbia University. She taught in the Taylorsville Schools and the former Statesville City Schools for thirty-four years, and worked tirelessly after retirement at Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, First Legacy Credit Union, The United States Post Office, among other places. She also volunteered at the American Red Cross, Davis Hospital. She was an active member of Scotts Chapel United Methodist Church, where she was chairwoman of the Finance Committee, a delegate to conference, church stenographer, Sunday School teacher, among other offices.
She was dedicated to, and possessed, a deep love of family. She delighted in attending family gatherings and reunions and always offered a shoulder to lean on and a sympathetic ear for them. She always lent a hand, wherever the need arose. Though she did not have a favorite team, she was also a sports fan, particularly baseball and football. Edith Derr loved people and always found ways to give of herself. As with her family, she went where the need arose and provided assistance. This was an integral part of who she was.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Cora Helen Carelock, Lillie Myrtle Martin Nelson and a brother, Isaiah Edward Martin.
She leaves to cherish the memory of her life a daughter, Lydia P. Derr of the home; a brother, Flunell Martin of Winston-Salem; three sisters, Catherine Martin Thurston and Lenora Martin Washington, both of Winston-Salem and Creola M. Martin of Columbia, S.C.; a godchild, Bernadine Yourse Minor of Georgia; special god children, Rev. and Mrs. Alexander (Tommie) Person, Jr. of Colorado; special friends, Mason and Inez McCullough of Statesville; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, the Scotts Chapel Church Family, neighbors and friends.
It is true,
I was created in you.
It is also true,
That you were created for me.
I owned your voice,
It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.
Your arms were molded,
Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.
The scent of your body was the air,
Perfumed for me to breathe.
By Maya Angelou - From MOTHER: A Cradle to Hold Me
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Christian Outreach of the Piedmont. Mrs. Derr will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home until taken to the church to lie in state at 11:30 a.m. Members of the family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m., but will assemble at the residence at other times.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Derr at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Derr Family.