On Thursday, June 29, 2023, Martha Purvis Chamblee, 83, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Raised in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Martha was the youngest of 5 children and relished being “the baby.” When she wasn’t spending time working in the family-owned grocery store, she was an exemplary student, enjoying most of her extra-curricular time playing clarinet in the marching band. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1957. Martha did her undergraduate studies at Elizabeth City State Teachers College, graduating in 1961 with the Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
In 1963, Martha married her college sweetheart, Sannie L. Chamblee, from Ahoskie, NC. After working in education for ten years in Hertford County, NC, Martha and Sannie moved to Virginia Beach, VA. Martha taught primary grades at Tarrallton, Camp Allen, and Tanners Creek Elementary Schools in the Norfolk City Public School system until her retirement.
As an educator, she was an active member in the NEA, EAN, VEA and the PTA. She also tutored high school seniors who planned to take the SAT exam.
Martha was a natural leader and passionate about community service, becoming a founding member of the Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, serving as President from 1984 to 1986. In addition, she was a Golden Life Member and recognized as a Delta Dear for setting a standard of excellence in service, scholarship, and sisterhood.
Though sometimes fraught with challenges, Martha considered balancing her career, marriage, and motherhood as her greatest accomplishment.
Martha is pre-deceased by her husband Sannie L. Chamblee; parents Leonard Sr. & Minerva Battle Purvis; brothers Leonard Purvis Jr. and William E. Purvis, and sister Ethyl Purvis Wiggins Ferree.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Sannie A. Chamblee (Tony), Dr. Christyl Chamblee Johnson & her husband Darryl, Aldric D. Chamblee Sr. & his wife Selena; grandchildren Jerrin Johnson, Aldric D. Chamblee Jr. (A.J.), and Andrew Chamblee; brother Dr. Joseph D. Purvis Sr. & his wife Shirley, sister-in-law Emeline Purvis, wife of Leonard Purvis Jr. (deceased); and a host of loving nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
A funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 13, 2023, at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 North Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. The family will receive friends in the reception hall immediately following the burial in Rosewood Memorial Park.
The family would like to express deepest gratitude to the wonderful staff of Sentara Hospice for their love and support during Martha’s final days.
