Martha Lewellen

Martha Rose Randolph Lewellen, 87, of Artesia, N.M., went to her heavenly home on February 25, 2020, in San Angelo, TX surrounded by her family.

Memorial services will be held at 10am Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the First Baptist Church of Artesia with Bro. Rick Sullivan officiating. Burial will follow the service at Woobine Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church fellowship hall after the graveside service.

Martha was born to Elbert and Mary Randolph on July 16, 1932 in Hobbs, N.M. and graduated from Hobbs High School in 1950. That same year, on Easter Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Hobbs, Martha first saw the love of her life, Henry Lewellen sitting in the balcony, while she was singing in the choir. After a year of courting, they married on July 6, 1951. They were blessed with the birth of 2 sons, Randy in 1953 and Scott was born the following year. The family moved to Artesia in 1960, becoming active members of the First Baptist Church where Martha shared her love of music by singing in the choir as well as teaching children's choirs for many years. She worked for the Artesia Public Schools ending her career as the Librarian of Central Elementary School. Martha was very artistic, painting many beautiful pictures but her family was her greatest masterpiece and she enjoyed spending time any chance she could with them. Summers spent in the mountains of Colorado with Henry and friends, old and new, was also on the top of her list of favorite things to do. She was also very competitive, especially when it came to playing games of cards, and dominoes, as many of her friends can attest to - especially her beloved group of "card playing gals". She was small in stature but very tough and overcame many obstacles in her lifetime.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Henry Lewellen of San Angelo, TX; sons Randy Lewellen and wife Kathy of Midland, TX, and Scott Lewellen of Lovington, N.M.; granddaughters Kelly Kerby and husband Trey, Kendra Holms and husband Nick, Erin Cummings, Lisa Russell and husband Keith, Kacci Jacoby and husband Tom; great-grandchildren Kooper and Tessa Kerby, McKenzie, Benjamin, and Aliyah Holms, Ella Cummings, Gage and Levi Jacoby; sister Sue Clark and husband Dorris; sisters-in-law Ann and Patsy Randolph and numerous nieces and nephews. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Elbert and Mary Randolph, brothers Ben and Truett Randolph, daughter-in-law Debbie Lewellen and grandson-in-law Dave Cummings.

Pallbearers will be Trey Kerby, Nick Holms, Keith Russell, Tom Jacoby, Otis Yates and Kent Whitmire.

The family would like to express their thanks to the Baptist Retirement Community and St. Gabriel's Hospice, both of San Angelo, Texas for their exceptional loving care. Contributions in memory of Martha can be made to the Baptist Children's Home of Portales, N.M.