In loving memory of
Martha R. James
August 30, 1939 - June 29, 2012
Martha James, age 72 of Forest Lake, MN and formerly of Tennessee, passed away June 29, 2012. Martha Ray James was born August 30, 1939, in Gaston, Alabama, a twin daughter of Annie Mae and Daniel Webster Collier.
Martha grew up in Gaston, AL along with her twin sister, Dorothy and her older sister, Jean. When Martha was a child, she and her family moved to Florida and lived in several communities in the Sunshine State.
She became employed at Minute Maid. It was at Minute Maid, that she met Buddy Smith and was later married to him. Together, they had three children, Mary Ann, Buddy Dwayne, and James Daniel Smith.
In 1989, Martha moved from Florida to Tennessee to be close to her second husband, Robert James' family. Following Robert's death, Martha moved to Minnesota to be near her daughter, Mary and her family.
Throughout her life, Martha was an extremely hard working woman - caring for her family, working at Minute Maid and later working as a cashier at retail stores. Martha grew up in a very religious and spirit-filled home. Following in her father's footsteps, Martha served as a preacher in Florida in a small community church and till the day she died and entered heaven, Martha was a very faithful servant and a follower of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Martha will be deeply missed by her daughter, Mary Ann (Tom) Stuen; sons, Buddy Dwayne "Dwayne" Smith and James Daniel "Danny" Smith; grandchildren, Richard Allen Wolfe, Barbara Ann Wolfe, Sarah Marie Wolfe, Jonathan Ray Vinge, Alicia Smith, Sommer Smith, and Steven Smith; great grandsons, Ethan, Gavin, Caleb, and Jacob; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Martha died on June 29, 2012 at Windy Acres in Forest Lake, Minnesota. She will be laid to rest with her parents, Daniel Webster and Annie Mae Collier in Auburndale, Florida.