Martha Wheeler Maddox

On January 29, 2023, Martha Louise Wheeler Maddox took her leave of this earthly world. Born in Valdosta, Georgia on May 25, 1928, she grew up in Tallahassee, graduating from Leon High School in 1946. Martha attended FSU, then-known as Florida State College for Women, where she met and married Emery A. Maddox, a Navy veteran home from the war. After graduating together from FSU, Martha began her life as a young wife and then mother. She re-entered the job market once her kids were in school and worked at various offices at FSU. Her career was derailed with a diagnosis of lupus at a time when little was known about the disease. She soon found her calling, becoming a staunch advocate for other lupus patients and started the Tallahassee Branch of the Lupus Support Network. Her advocacy was recognized when she received the 2006 Volunteer of the Year Award (Social Services) from the Tallahassee Democrat. She returned to work when her health allowed. When she was finally forced to retire, she was the administrative assistant to the Director of the FSU Student Union. She loved to tell the tales of the interesting students she met there. In her later years, Martha thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the “Friday Press Club” at St. John’s Episcopal Church. She cared deeply for her lupus friends, her church friends, classmates of the LHS Class of 1946, her neighbors on Amelia Circle, Maddox Road, Glendale, and lastly, at Allegro. She will be remembered by her family for her drive for life, rain-walks, brickle, music-making, and being mom to Kim, Kerry (Rick), Rod (Susan); Grandmartha to Maggie (Charles), Nolan (Ted), Amelia (William), and GREAT Grandmartha to Emery Margaret. Martha was a force to the end. Martha was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Emery, sister Bobbe, and parents Onie and Nick Wheeler. The family would like to thank her caregivers over the years: Yumico, Robbie, Lucinda, Rhonda, Shon, Judy, and Linda. It truly took a village. Funeral service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 N. Monroe St, Tallahassee, on Friday, February 10th, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Contributions in her memory can be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., 2121 K Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037; Big Bend Hospice 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32308; and St. John’s Episcopal Church 211 N. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32302. Jared Padgett of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com)

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Martha Wheeler Maddox

May 25, 1928 - January 29, 2023