Martha Ann Wheeler

On Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, our 87 years young, pretty, funny, blue-eyed, blonde-headed (at least 12 of every 16 weeks) momma, Martha Ann Wheeler, went to be with the Lord. Born February 9, 1937, in Knoxville, Tennessee, she grew up in the country with a love for family and God. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Pearl Walden, sister, Peggy Hughes, and husbands, Carl Ballard and James Wheeler. She is survived by her four children, Terri Davis, Sandy Wiles (Dan), Gary Ballard, and Jamie (Susan) Wheeler; grandchildren Brad Llewellyn, Cory Headrick, Stephanie Davis, Catie Ballard, and Parker Felthoff; great-grandchildren, Daine, Joey, Avy, and Rex; special nieces and nephews, Cheryl, Vicky, Michael, David, and Kathy, as well as her cousins, Bob Watson and Lois Marcum.

Being self-taught and playing by ear, Mom played the piano for her church. She enjoyed sharing her gift by travelling to other churches to sing and play the piano as part of a gospel quartet she was in with her cousins. With great joy, she played and sang her heart out - especially when she thought no one was looking.

We will miss Mom’s famous chicken and dumplings, potato salad, cornbread dressing, and her love for coconut in any form - cake, pie, cookies, or candy. She did not drink, smoke, or curse, she and taught us the value of hard work by example working into her late 70’s. As a mostly single mother, she showed us what strength looked like and what unconditional love is. Mom used to joke that one day we’d miss her when she was gone. She didn’t realize how profound and deeply true it was.

Please join us for a visitation on Friday, June 21, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Berry Highland West, 9913 Sherrill Blvd. A graveside service will occur Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 11:00am at Fairview Free Will Baptist Church, 135 Fairview Church Rd, Heiskell, TN 37754.

“God saw you getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered, ‘Come to me.’ With tearful eyes, we watched you and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.”