Martha Sue Hayes Lloyd

Martha Sue Hayes Lloyd, 83 passed away on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

Martha (Marsue to her siblings) was born on March 11, 1939, in Junior, Barbour County, WV. She was an artist, a self-taught chef, devoted mother and grandmother, and the wife and soulmate of Jim Blake Lloyd for 62 years.

Martha grew up in a large, loving family in Elkins, WV and graduated Elkins High School in 1957. After graduating, she worked at several jobs in Elkins including Neal’s Drug Store where she developed film and first recognized her love of and talent for photography. The drug store was also a soda fountain and she made frozen custards standing at a window facing the street. Jim came by multiple times a day to see her or buy custard (depends on who tells the story). She also worked as an operator for the local telephone company. During this time, she and Jim fell in love and eloped to Winchester, VA because she was 2 months shy of her 21st birthday. The fact that she still had to call home and get permission from her father is one of the great humorous stories of family lore.

After supporting Jim financially as he completed his civil engineering degree, the couple moved several times as Jim worked on various construction projects. They welcomed three additions to the family over the next few years, Vicky (1961), Tony (1963), and Marsue (1966). While the children were growing up, Martha focused her love and energy into being the best of all mothers. While living in Paducah, KY, she was recognized as “Duchess of Paducah” by the city. In December 1976, the family moved to Elberton. Along the way, she always found time to continue her personal growth as an artist. She originally worked with oil painting and then quickly shifted to watercolors and that became her lifelong passion. When the children were in high school, she returned to her love of photography by working at the Elberton Star doing advertising layout and at the Elbert Beacon working as a photographer.

Upon moving to Elberton, she was deeply involved in the community. She taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church for decades, served as Director of the Elberton Civic League and was President of the Elberton Arts Council.

Throughout her beautiful life, Martha made friends with every stranger she met and created a large circle of lifelong friends because she was so authentically loving and caring. When engaged in conversation, she was always present, in the moment, empathetic and deeply interested in listening and understanding. For all of us who had the privilege of knowing her, there is today, a hole in the world that she previously filled with love.

Martha is survived by her husband of 62 years, Jim Blake; their three children: Vicky Lloyd Stanley (Glenn) of Madison, AL, Tony Lloyd (Hollie) of Thomasville, GA, and Marsue Lloyd of Elberton, GA; three grandchildren: Sierra Lloyd of Seattle, WA, Blake Stanley of Madison, AL, and Drew Lloyd of Atlanta, GA: three siblings: Mary Lou Irwin of Elkins, WV, Mildred “Middy” Bower (Harold) of Old Fort, NC, and Rebecca “Becky” Hayes (Manouchehr Naderpour) of Waynesville, VA.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Hayes and Kathleen P. Isner Hayes, and siblings, Jimmy “Gabby” Hayes of Elkins, WV, Betty Crickard of Beverly, WV, and George Hayes of Elkins, WV; and her aunt, Margaret Flanagan of Elkins, WV.

Funeral services celebrating Martha’s life will be held on Tuesday, July 12, at 11 o’clock in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with the Rev. Gary Purvis officiating. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memorial Park.

The family will greet friends on Monday, July 11, from 6:00-8:00p.m. at Berry Funeral Home.

Flowers are accepted and contributions may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www.berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Martha Sue Hayes Lloyd.