Martha Mae Ashford-Winters

Obituary For Martha Mae Ashford-Winters

Martha May Ashford Winters loved her family and her community. The Attala County native was blessed to live 95 years. She dedicated herself to raising a family, supporting her husband's civil rights work and educating and mentoring the hundreds of children she encountered through the Head Start program.

Mrs. Winters was born on January 7, 1929, to Roosevelt and Annie Mae Cone Black. As a teenager, she along with her widowed mother and brother moved to Kosciusko where she met Otha B. “Jab” Ashford and joined what is now Wesley United Methodist Church. She and Mr. Ashford married January 6, 1948, and were blessed with five children, who they raised at Wesley and shepherd to their own families and careers.

A housekeeper in her early years, Mrs. Winters became a Head Start teacher, a career she loved. She retired when her mother became ill. She was a compassionate and patient caregiver for many family members and friends.

For her children, grandchildren and so many others, she will forever be the epitome of love, always encouraging and helping them celebrate and find their way through life's challenges. She taught all to lean on their faith in God and to love and take care of themselves and each other.

Martha Ashford Winters departed this world the evening of September 3, 2024.

It's not goodbye," she said. "It's I'll see you when I see you."

She is preceded in death by her husband, Otha B. Ashford and T.C. Winters, her eldest child: Otharetha “Polly” (Horace) Ashford-Mabry, her parents and brother, Jimmy Black. She is survived by four children, Melvin (Denise) Ashford, Cynthia Ashford (Todd) Cross, Kenneth (Ozie) Ashford, and Charlotte Ashford Hampton. She also leads to cherish her memories her grandchildren: LaRaye, Dionna, Mary, Bailee, Devin, Erica, Ashford, Taylor, Christopher, LaMarcus, Jennifer, Kimberly, Leotha, and Marshae. Mrs. Winters is also survived by a host of great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, extended family and friends, all of whom she cherished and loved as her own.

PLACE OF SERVICE: Wesley U.M. Methodist Church, Kosciusko, MS

DATE OF SERVICE: Monday 09/09/2024 at 11:00 a.m.

INTERMENT: City Cemetery, Kosciusko, MS

VIEWING: Saturday 09/07/2024 at 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

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