Clara Belle (Williams) Martin, fondly known by her family as Mimi, passed away on Saturday January 26, 2019, at her Garland, Texas home, less than one month from her 104th birthday. She was born on February 21, 1915 in Hattieville, Arkansas and was the third child of her late parents, John Thomas Williams and Sarah Ann (Wilson) Williams.
Mimi was an elementary teacher, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a graduate of Wonder View High School as well as Arkansas State Teachers College, now University of Central Arkansas. Mimi began her career as an elementary teacher at Wonder View, Arkansas, moved later to the Fort Smith Arkansas School System, where she retired after 37 years of dedicated service as an educator. After retiring in 1982, she and her late husband, Jerrel, moved to Texas to be near their two sons. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas where she enjoyed volunteering, teaching English to immigrants, sewing hundreds of finger puppets for hospitalized children, and singing in the GoldenAires senior choir. Mimi loved to read, garden and play card games with her friends, especially SkipBo. One of her greatest joys was helping children learn to read. She loved her family and doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a great cook and never so happy as when she was preparing a wonderful meal for the whole family.
Survivors include her two sons, Jerry Martin and wife, Mary of Allen, Texas, Tom Martin and husband, Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley of Richardson, Texas; three grandchildren, Stephanie Martin Griffith and husband, Chris of Allen, Texas, Brian Martin and wife, Stephanie of Allen, Texas, and Maggie Martin Cargile and husband, Ross of Puckapunyal, Australia; seven great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Griffith, Avery Griffith, Payton Martin, Hudson Martin, Cayson Martin, Abbie Cargile and Sophia Cargile; sister-in-law, Pauline Meeler of Morrilton; seven nephews and nieces, Allen Meeler, Roger Meeler, Rick Martin, Rita Garrison, Amy Martin, Billy Cheek, and Danny Cheek; and loving caregivers, Margarita Veliz and Margie Whaley.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Jerrel; a brother, Lock Williams; sister, Irene May; four brothers-in-law, Bill Martin, Sgt. Harold Dean Martin, Cyril Meeler and Whit May; two nieces, Marguerite Cheek and Janet Meeler; and great-niece, Wanda Cheek Brown.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013 with Rev. Dr. Gary Kindley officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 31, 2019 at Atkins Cemetery in Arkansas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Continuing Mimi’s love of children, memorial donations may be given to Vogel Alcove Childcare Center for the Homeless, 1738 Gano St, Dallas Texas 75231, www.vogelalcove.org.