Martha Jo Waldrip

On the morning of June 25, Martha Jo Williams Waldrip finished the race of life victorious and rejoined her husband of 61 years, Norman, in their eternal heavenly home. She was a victim of that cruel disease called Alzheimer’s which robbed her of most of her memories except, by the grace of God, she never forgot who her children were. Martha Jo was born February 6th, 1929 in Grayson County Texas, somewhere on a tenant farm out in the country near Howe. Her parents were Herschell Williams and Addie Bell Clack Williams. After attending school in Howe and Van Alstyne Texas she graduated from Denison High School in Denison. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree from Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton Texas. She then received her nursing degree from Baylor University and attended Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth. While studying there she met a fellow student named Norman Waldrip and they became an item, fell in love and then were married on May 14th 1955. She began her long nursing career as an RN for a hospital in Fort Worth before relocating to her husband’s home state of Georgia. As well as being a pastor and a nurse, Martha and Norman went from being a duet to becoming a septet by having 5 children over the course of a few years. She raised her children with love and affection and was the steadfast preacher’s wife. She was an active and effective leader in her husband’s churches as they moved from one congregation to the next. Norman Waldrip was a great voice for Jesus and his teachings, but it was possible only through the behind the scenes support from Martha.

In 1975 Martha entered the second phase of her nursing career by becoming part of the opening faculty of the Nursing program at Georgia College (now Georgia College and State University) in Milledgeville GA. She went back to school and earned her Masters in Nursing Education from the Augusta College of Medicine. From there she taught at Tri County Tech in Pendleton SC and then returned to hospital nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens GA. Even long after retiring in 1994, she never said she was a nurse. She would say, “I am a nurse.”

She is survived by her children, Charles Waldrip (Susan) Charlotte, NC/Orlando FL, Cathy Womack (Scott) Madison GA, Carey Waldrip (Andrea) Hoschton GA, Carol Moss (Terry) Marble NC, and Clay Waldrip (Kathy) Chester SC. There are also 16 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 3 more on the way!

A remembrance and viewing will be held on Sunday evening June 28, 2026 at 6:00-7:00 pm at Barron Funeral Home 133 Wylie Street Chester SC. A visitation will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church 3400 Penfield Road, Greensboro Ga. at 1:00pm followed by a celebration of Martha Jo’s life at 2:00 pm on Monday June 29th 2026. Interment will follow the service in the church cemetery. Officiating will be her son, the Reverend Clay Waldrip with music led by her daughter, Carol Moss. Pallbearers are Michael Bofinger, Benjamin Waldrip, Leonore Waldrip-Irwin, Matthew Waldrip, Jacob Waldrip, Phillip Moss, Levi Moss and Daniel Moss.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation to Shiloh Baptist Church, 2861 Penfield Road, Greensboro, GA

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com