Martha R. Harding

Loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and devoted wife for 62 years, Martha Jeanne Harding, 84, succumbed to complications of Parkinson's Disease at Pointe Coupee Heathcaer in New Roads on Friday, March 9, 2012. Visitaiton will start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9559 Florida Blvd., followed by a religious service in the chapel at noon conducted by the Rev. Stephen Flemming. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. She lost her husband, Donald L. Harding, two years ago, and was also preceded in death by her parents, John M. Reid Jr. and Emma Mae Baker Reid. Survived by a sister, Janie, her husband, Charles Knighten, and their son, Todd, of Ville Platte, she leaves behind three sons, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Dale and Kris Harding of Baton Rouge, their two daughters, Jennifer, her husband, Ben Owens, and son Atticus, and Meghan, her husband, Chris Audler, and sons, Wyatt and Haynes, David Harding of Centennial, Colo., his three children, Ryan, Erin and Mattie, and their mother, Debbie Harding; Cliff and Connie Harding, of New Roads, and their two daughters, Alicia, her husband James Jarreau, and daughter, Kaylie, and Catherine, her husband, Todd Jackson, and their twins, Anna and Lily. She'll be fondly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and family friends. Pallbearers will be Ryan Harding, Todd Knighten, James Jarreau, Ben Owens, Barry Harding, Glyn Harding Jr., and Gary and Steve Hudson. Born August 5, 1927, in Shreveport, Martha spent most of her life in Baton Rouge where she graduated from Istrouma High School, mariried and raised a family of three boys. In their retirement years, Donald and Martha moved to New Roads. Active many years in the Methodist church, she sang in the choirs at Istrouma Methodist and Evangeline Methodist, and attended First United Methodist Church in New Roads. She served as a den mother for cub scouts in the Istrouma Area Council. She enjoyed fishing and collected antique demitasse cups, commemorative spoons, angels and porcelain birds. The family would like to thank Dr. Carl McLemore as well as the staffs of Pointe Coupee Healthcare, Pointe Coupee Hospice, and Pointe Coupee General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pointe Coupee Hospice or the National Parkinson's Foundation.