Mrs. Martha E James

Martha McConnell James died on August 7, 2016 at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Center in McKinney, Texas. She was born on Jan. 9, 1914 in Waco, TX to Bernard Dickson and Minerva Eugenia Wood Reynolds. She married Herbert Clyde McConnell in Belton Texas on June 20, 1933. Herbert Clyde died Jan. 12, 1971 in Toledo, OH and is buried there. Martha married Edwin Smith James on Jan. 1, 1983 in Dallas, TX. Edwin died on May 11, 1991 and is buried in Dallas, TX. Martha attended Baylor University in Waco, TX and Toledo University in Ohio, graduating with a Masters in Education in 1963. She was a teacher for 30 years and a reading diagnostician. Martha was the mother of three children: Herbert Clyde McConnell, Jr., Benjamin Eugene McConnell, and Martha Lucile Taylor. Her grandchildren are Benjamin Eugene McConnell, Jr., Michael Benjamin Taylor, David Brian Taylor, Steven Scott Taylor and Jeffrey Alan Taylor. Great grandchildren are Abigail Grace Taylor, David Brian Taylor, Jr., Carlos Gonzalo Fernandez and Sophia Jessica Taylor. Great great grandchildren are Zoe, Jackson and Gage. Martha was a long-time member of Lake Highlands United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home on Thursday, Aug. 11 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. A funeral service will also be at Sparkman/Hillcrest on Friday, Aug. 12 at 2:00 pm with burial to follow. Memorials may be sent to Lake Highlands UMC, 9015 Plano Rd., Dallas, TX 75238.