Maretha Belle Martin Mabe

Mrs. Maretha Belle Martin Mabe, 90, of 481 White Pines Country Club Road, Mount Airy, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at her home. Mrs. Mabe was born September 29, 1920, in Surry County, daughter of the late James Franklin and Mary Jane "Polly" Bowman Martin. She was a homemaker and a member of New Charity Baptist Church. She is survived by three daughters, Mary Katherine Mabe and Paula Ann Mabe, both of the home, and Nancy Leverette of Smithfield; two sons, James Beasley Mabe of Atlanta, GA, and Thomas Wayne Mabe of Greer, SC; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; thirteen great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Mabe was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Persian Mabe; a son, Paul Donald Mabe, Sr.; two sisters, Effie Horton and Sarah Snow; and four brothers, John Martin, Jack Martin, Emmitt Martin, and Clint Martin. The funeral service will be held Friday, April 1, 2011, at 11:00 AM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. Hank Robertson and the Rev. Tommy Floyd officiating. Burial will follow at Skyline Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology Lane, Suite 200, Mount Airy, NC 27030. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, especially Tina Leonard and Wanda Holt, for their loving care and support during Maretha's illness and since her passing.