Martha Laird Wall

Martha Laird Wall, 87 of Jonesboro died Sunday, January 8, 2006 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center.

A descendant of pioneer Clay county families, she was born in Jonesboro where she graduated Jonesboro High School. She was a 1940 graduate of Duke University where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

She devoted her life to her family and friends and volunteered her time and abilities to her community. As a life long member of First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro, she taught Sunday School, was youth Division Superintendent, served as president of the Women’s Society of Christian Service of First Methodist and president of the district WSCS, served on the church’s administrative board as chair of several committees, and was a member of the board of trustees for the church. She served on the board of the Wesley Foundation at ASU. She was a charter member, the first president, and life member of the Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary. She served on the board and as joint chairperson of the Foundation of Arts. She was president of the Friends of the Forum. She was a Girl Scout and a Brownie leader. She served on the boards of the Jonesboro Craighead County Public Library and the Council for International Visitors. She received a citation from Arkansas State University for fundraising for the university through its Community Development Council. She was an active member and president of the P. E. O. Sisterhood, a member of the Northeast Arkansas Symphony Guild, and the American Association of University Women. She was chairperson of the Craighead County Arkansas Sesquicentennial Celebration.

She was a volunteer for the Red Cross Bloodmobile, St. Bernard’s Hospital Auxiliary, for the Helping Neighbors Food Pantry, and for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas.

Survivors include two daughters, Cheryl Wall Trimarchi of Jonesboro and Janet Wall Hendricks of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; three grandchildren, Stephanie Trimarchi Giesecke, of Washington, DC., Felicia Trimarchi Hart, of Calgary, Canada and Kyle Bryant Hendricks, of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Bryant Wall; her parents, Thomas Burgess Laird, II, and Maude Mobley Laird; and two brothers, Thomas Burgess Laird, II and Knight Laird.

A graveside committal service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Rex Dickey officiating. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro with the Rev. Rex Dickey officiating. Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sara Love, Rosalee Grisham, Anita Parker, Betty Sloan, Jerri Kimmell, Doreen and Jack Deacon, Betty Grace and Frank Snellgrove, Joyce Williams, and the members of P. E. O.

Visitation will be today from 5 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, the Jonesboro Craighead County Library or the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. To sign an online guest book, go to www.emersonfuneralhome.com

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