October 28, 1934 – October 1, 2023
Martha Kennedy Gay died on October 1, 2023, of complications of dementia. She was 27 days shy of her 89th birthday.
Martha was born in Atlanta, GA, on October 28, 1934, to Martha Delay Kennedy and Clyde M. Kennedy, Jr. She grew up in the Garden Hills neighborhood and graduated in 1952, from North Fulton High School, as class valedictorian. She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, and graduated from Women's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1956, with a degree in Clothing and Textiles.
Early in her junior year in high school Martha met John W. Gay III (Johnny) of Scottsboro, AL, a student at Georgia Tech. For Johnny it was literally love at first sight. They began a courtship that lasted for 5 ½ years until she finished college. They were married on April 7, 1956, at Peachtree Road Methodist Church in Atlanta.
Martha and Johnny began their married life in Dayton, OH, where Johnny had a year remaining in his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. In January 1957, their daughter, Sharon, was born. Once Johnny completed his Air Force duties, they moved to Scottsboro, AL, where Johnny resumed his career at Gay-Tred Mills, Inc. and served on the board of the community bank founded by his grandfather. Their son, Alan, was born in January 1959.
Martha was a mother, cook, house manager, seamstress, gardener, and interior designer. She had a well-trained sense of color, form, and style and an unerring eye for quality. She made beautiful, intricate smocked dresses for Sharon when she was a young girl. Martha devoted several years to designing and building the family's dream house and garden. Sharon and Alan claim they spent chunks of their childhood in the architect's offices in Birmingham and in multiple furniture and lighting stores. Martha then obtained her professional interior design certification and joined a partner in Wimberly House, an interior decorating and gift shop business. She enjoyed decorating her clients' homes and the family homes in Scottsboro and St. Simons Island as well as assisting Sharon and Alan as they set up their own households. An avid gardener, Martha maintained many beautiful flowers and shrubs in their yard. She was always elegantly dressed.
Martha modeled for her children the importance of commitment to faith and community. She was a long-time member of the Scottsboro Women's League, a civic organization. She was involved in many civic activities and projects and enjoyed being in a bridge club. She was an active member of Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church and later of Northwest Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Martha and Johnny traveled widely and also enjoyed many happy times at the beach house with family.
In 2012, Martha and Johnny left their many friends in Scottsboro and moved to Atlanta to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They initially lived in Buckhead and in 2016 moved to Canterbury Court, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Atlanta. In 2017 Martha started showing signs of dementia. Over the next four years her dementia slowly advanced, and she suffered other health problems. In fall 2021, she moved to the skilled nursing section at Canterbury, where she remained until her death.
Martha was predeceased by her parents, Clyde and Martha Kennedy; and brother, Clyde Kennedy, Jr. She is survived by her husband, John Gay; her children, Sharon Gay (Neil Schemm) and Alan Gay (Kelly), all of Atlanta; grandchildren, Chandler Gay (Maddi) of Miami and Hannah Gay of New York City. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Betty Lee Kennedy of Atlanta; nieces and nephew, Katie Kennedy (Andy Noel) of Houston, TX, and Kathleen Kennedy and Dan Kennedy of Atlanta; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
The family is planning memorial services in Scottsboro and Atlanta. Memorial gifts may be made to Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 315 S. Kyle St., Scottsboro, AL 35768 or the Garden Fund of Canterbury Court, Inc.: www.canterburycourt.org.
Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8, 2023.
Martha Kennedy Gay died on October 1, 2023, of complications of dementia. She was 27 days shy of her 89th birthday.
Martha was born in Atlanta, GA, on October 28, 1934, to Martha Delay Kennedy and Clyde M. Kennedy, Jr. She grew up in the Garden Hills neighborhood and graduated in 1952, from North Fulton High School, as class valedictorian. She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, and graduated from Women's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1956, with a degree in Clothing and Textiles.
Early in her junior year in high school Martha met John W. Gay III (Johnny) of Scottsboro, AL, a student at Georgia Tech. For Johnny it was literally love at first sight. They began a courtship that lasted for 5 ½ years until she finished college. They were married on April 7, 1956, at Peachtree Road Methodist Church in Atlanta.
Martha and Johnny began their married life in Dayton, OH, where Johnny had a year remaining in his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. In January 1957, their daughter, Sharon, was born. Once Johnny completed his Air Force duties, they moved to Scottsboro, AL, where Johnny resumed his career at Gay-Tred Mills, Inc. and served on the board of the community bank founded by his grandfather. Their son, Alan, was born in January 1959.
Martha was a mother, cook, house manager, seamstress, gardener, and interior designer. She had a well-trained sense of color, form, and style and an unerring eye for quality. She made beautiful, intricate smocked dresses for Sharon when she was a young girl. Martha devoted several years to designing and building the family's dream house and garden. Sharon and Alan claim they spent chunks of their childhood in the architect's offices in Birmingham and in multiple furniture and lighting stores. Martha then obtained her professional interior design certification and joined a partner in Wimberly House, an interior decorating and gift shop business. She enjoyed decorating her clients' homes and the family homes in Scottsboro and St. Simons Island as well as assisting Sharon and Alan as they set up their own households. An avid gardener, Martha maintained many beautiful flowers and shrubs in their yard. She was always elegantly dressed.
Martha modeled for her children the importance of commitment to faith and community. She was a long-time member of the Scottsboro Women's League, a civic organization. She was involved in many civic activities and projects and enjoyed being in a bridge club. She was an active member of Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church and later of Northwest Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Martha and Johnny traveled widely and also enjoyed many happy times at the beach house with family.
In 2012, Martha and Johnny left their many friends in Scottsboro and moved to Atlanta to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They initially lived in Buckhead and in 2016 moved to Canterbury Court, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Atlanta. In 2017 Martha started showing signs of dementia. Over the next four years her dementia slowly advanced, and she suffered other health problems. In fall 2021, she moved to the skilled nursing section at Canterbury, where she remained until her death.
Martha was predeceased by her parents, Clyde and Martha Kennedy; and brother, Clyde Kennedy, Jr. She is survived by her husband, John Gay; her children, Sharon Gay (Neil Schemm) and Alan Gay (Kelly), all of Atlanta; grandchildren, Chandler Gay (Maddi) of Miami and Hannah Gay of New York City. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Betty Lee Kennedy of Atlanta; nieces and nephew, Katie Kennedy (Andy Noel) of Houston, TX, and Kathleen Kennedy and Dan Kennedy of Atlanta; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
The family is planning memorial services in Scottsboro and Atlanta. Memorial gifts may be made to Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 315 S. Kyle St., Scottsboro, AL 35768 or the Garden Fund of Canterbury Court, Inc.: www.canterburycourt.org.
Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8, 2023.
October 28, 1934 – October 1, 2023
Martha Kennedy Gay died on October 1, 2023, of complications of dementia. She was 27 days shy of her 89th birthday.
Martha was born in Atlanta, GA, on October 28, 1934, to Martha Delay Kennedy and Clyde M. Kennedy, Jr. She grew up in the Garden Hills neighborhood and graduated in 1952, from North Fulton High School, as class valedictorian. She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, and graduated from Women's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1956, with a degree in Clothing and Textiles.
Early in her junior year in high school Martha met John W. Gay III (Johnny) of Scottsboro, AL, a student at Georgia Tech. For Johnny it was literally love at first sight. They began a courtship that lasted for 5 ½ years until she finished college. They were married on April 7, 1956, at Peachtree Road Methodist Church in Atlanta.
Martha and Johnny began their married life in Dayton, OH, where Johnny had a year remaining in his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. In January 1957, their daughter, Sharon, was born. Once Johnny completed his Air Force duties, they moved to Scottsboro, AL, where Johnny resumed his career at Gay-Tred Mills, Inc. and served on the board of the community bank founded by his grandfather. Their son, Alan, was born in January 1959.
Martha was a mother, cook, house manager, seamstress, gardener, and interior designer. She had a well-trained sense of color, form, and style and an unerring eye for quality. She made beautiful, intricate smocked dresses for Sharon when she was a young girl. Martha devoted several years to designing and building the family's dream house and garden. Sharon and Alan claim they spent chunks of their childhood in the architect's offices in Birmingham and in multiple furniture and lighting stores. Martha then obtained her professional interior design certification and joined a partner in Wimberly House, an interior decorating and gift shop business. She enjoyed decorating her clients' homes and the family homes in Scottsboro and St. Simons Island as well as assisting Sharon and Alan as they set up their own households. An avid gardener, Martha maintained many beautiful flowers and shrubs in their yard. She was always elegantly dressed.
Martha modeled for her children the importance of commitment to faith and community. She was a long-time member of the Scottsboro Women's League, a civic organization. She was involved in many civic activities and projects and enjoyed being in a bridge club. She was an active member of Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church and later of Northwest Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Martha and Johnny traveled widely and also enjoyed many happy times at the beach house with family.
In 2012, Martha and Johnny left their many friends in Scottsboro and moved to Atlanta to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They initially lived in Buckhead and in 2016 moved to Canterbury Court, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Atlanta. In 2017 Martha started showing signs of dementia. Over the next four years her dementia slowly advanced, and she suffered other health problems. In fall 2021, she moved to the skilled nursing section at Canterbury, where she remained until her death.
Martha was predeceased by her parents, Clyde and Martha Kennedy; and brother, Clyde Kennedy, Jr. She is survived by her husband, John Gay; her children, Sharon Gay (Neil Schemm) and Alan Gay (Kelly), all of Atlanta; grandchildren, Chandler Gay (Maddi) of Miami and Hannah Gay of New York City. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Betty Lee Kennedy of Atlanta; nieces and nephew, Katie Kennedy (Andy Noel) of Houston, TX, and Kathleen Kennedy and Dan Kennedy of Atlanta; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
The family is planning memorial services in Scottsboro and Atlanta. Memorial gifts may be made to Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 315 S. Kyle St., Scottsboro, AL 35768 or the Garden Fund of Canterbury Court, Inc.: www.canterburycourt.org.
Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8, 2023.
Martha Kennedy Gay died on October 1, 2023, of complications of dementia. She was 27 days shy of her 89th birthday.
Martha was born in Atlanta, GA, on October 28, 1934, to Martha Delay Kennedy and Clyde M. Kennedy, Jr. She grew up in the Garden Hills neighborhood and graduated in 1952, from North Fulton High School, as class valedictorian. She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, and graduated from Women's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1956, with a degree in Clothing and Textiles.
Early in her junior year in high school Martha met John W. Gay III (Johnny) of Scottsboro, AL, a student at Georgia Tech. For Johnny it was literally love at first sight. They began a courtship that lasted for 5 ½ years until she finished college. They were married on April 7, 1956, at Peachtree Road Methodist Church in Atlanta.
Martha and Johnny began their married life in Dayton, OH, where Johnny had a year remaining in his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. In January 1957, their daughter, Sharon, was born. Once Johnny completed his Air Force duties, they moved to Scottsboro, AL, where Johnny resumed his career at Gay-Tred Mills, Inc. and served on the board of the community bank founded by his grandfather. Their son, Alan, was born in January 1959.
Martha was a mother, cook, house manager, seamstress, gardener, and interior designer. She had a well-trained sense of color, form, and style and an unerring eye for quality. She made beautiful, intricate smocked dresses for Sharon when she was a young girl. Martha devoted several years to designing and building the family's dream house and garden. Sharon and Alan claim they spent chunks of their childhood in the architect's offices in Birmingham and in multiple furniture and lighting stores. Martha then obtained her professional interior design certification and joined a partner in Wimberly House, an interior decorating and gift shop business. She enjoyed decorating her clients' homes and the family homes in Scottsboro and St. Simons Island as well as assisting Sharon and Alan as they set up their own households. An avid gardener, Martha maintained many beautiful flowers and shrubs in their yard. She was always elegantly dressed.
Martha modeled for her children the importance of commitment to faith and community. She was a long-time member of the Scottsboro Women's League, a civic organization. She was involved in many civic activities and projects and enjoyed being in a bridge club. She was an active member of Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church and later of Northwest Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Martha and Johnny traveled widely and also enjoyed many happy times at the beach house with family.
In 2012, Martha and Johnny left their many friends in Scottsboro and moved to Atlanta to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They initially lived in Buckhead and in 2016 moved to Canterbury Court, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Atlanta. In 2017 Martha started showing signs of dementia. Over the next four years her dementia slowly advanced, and she suffered other health problems. In fall 2021, she moved to the skilled nursing section at Canterbury, where she remained until her death.
Martha was predeceased by her parents, Clyde and Martha Kennedy; and brother, Clyde Kennedy, Jr. She is survived by her husband, John Gay; her children, Sharon Gay (Neil Schemm) and Alan Gay (Kelly), all of Atlanta; grandchildren, Chandler Gay (Maddi) of Miami and Hannah Gay of New York City. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Betty Lee Kennedy of Atlanta; nieces and nephew, Katie Kennedy (Andy Noel) of Houston, TX, and Kathleen Kennedy and Dan Kennedy of Atlanta; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
The family is planning memorial services in Scottsboro and Atlanta. Memorial gifts may be made to Scottsboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 315 S. Kyle St., Scottsboro, AL 35768 or the Garden Fund of Canterbury Court, Inc.: www.canterburycourt.org.
Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8, 2023.
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