Catherine Elizabeth Martin

Catherine Elizabeth Martin, age 65, entered into eternal life on Friday, December 17th and was accepted into the loving arms of God. Following a life of huge career success and enormous challenges brought on by a 30-year challenge with MS, her longing was to be free of the pain of living and a desire to be reunited with her parents and her beloved dachshund, Franklin. She longed to fly over the rainbow bridge where she could be walking and dancing, free of pain and physical limitation.

Catherine was raised in Bethel, North Carolina, but lived and worked all over the US and points around the world. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, in Raleigh and Florida State University. She worked at a number of international companies, including as engineer and Vice President of Design and Installation at Marriot Corporation, responsible for the opening of Marriot facilities at Times Square and other locations worldwide. She combined the personality of a “spicy” southern belle with the sophistication of a world traveler and even grew to love the cold and snow of Chicago. In recent years she worked for the MS Society and supported their success by means of her marketing skills and fundraising efforts. She left a legacy of wisdom, generosity, humor and love, though she ran out of time to write the book she was planning. She was determined, spontaneous, loved good food, wine and friends, treasured her family and appreciated the divine challenge of the life she was given and how it made her a better person.

In addition to her parents, Marie Haines Martin and F. Curtis Martin and her beloved dachshund, Franklin, she is preceded in death by her uncles and aunts Bud and Mary Haines, Bob and Brownie Michaels, by her cousin Mary Ann Haines and by her nephew Michael Arthur Johann Martin.  She is survived by her brother, Michael Martin, her cousins Keith Haines (Jeri Lou), Phillip Michaels (Gail), Marty Michaels (Mark Tull), Gail Henry (Jim) and Greg Michaels (Ana Maria Linares). She is also survived by her dear friend Ellen Harrison, and many other family members, neighbors, and friends.

Catherine received wonderful care from Aurelia Charqueno, Kim Holley, Ana Marie Ashmann and Kim Haggard. They blessed her with loving, wise, wonderful care and brought joy and humor into her home at a most difficult time. Catherine was also blessed by the support from her friends at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, and the many friends she communicated with in “Words with Friends” and phone calls.

A celebration of life service will be held at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 107 Louis Street, Greenville, NC 27858, on January 15, 2022, at 11am (Barring further COVID restrictions. View website, st-tim.org, for latest covid restrictions.).  Flowers are welcome, or donations can be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina (3520 Tupper Drive, Greenville, NC 27834), or the MS Society (National MS Society, PO Box #91891, Washington, D.C. 20090).

Online condolences may be made at www.farmvillefh.com.

Arrangements are by Farmville Funeral Home.

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