Merna Jane Gilkey Martin

Merna Jane Gilkey Martin, aged 90 years, departed us on May 27, 2020, in Clarkesville, Georgia, after having lived a long and fulfilling life filled with family, friends, and communion with God.  Merna was born to William Harvey Gilkey and Laurene Ora Bollenbach on November 11, 1929 in Columbus Junction, Iowa.  She was preceded in death by her older brother, William Warren Gilkey (wife Lorraine), and her older sister and best friend, Marva Jean Gilkey Hill (husband Roger).  She is survived by her children, daughter Teresa Lynn Martin Barry (husband Dan) and sons William Bryan Martin (wife Dumisile Nxumalo Martin) and Steven Lane Martin, and her grandchildren, Bryan Sipho Martin, Rachel Nicole Martin and Ryan Paul Martin (wife Madison). 

Merna, quietly and with great dignity, managed a simple but gracious life.  Her God-given ability to trust in Him allowed her to enjoy her uncomplicated life of friends, antiques, and most of all family.  Merna married, raised a family, worked, and enjoyed retirement, across the United States.  Though her roots were always in her birthplace, Columbus Junction, Iowa, she also lived in Baltimore, Maryland, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Amarillo, Texas, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Georgia, Lakeland, Florida, Clearwater, Florida and finally Clarkesville, Georgia.  In each of those homes, Merna enjoyed lasting friendships and fond memories of neighbors, Sunday School friends and other antique enthusiasts.  Not shy of adventure, Merna made two ambitious overseas visits to her son and daughter-in-law’s workstations in Harare, Zimbabwe (1997) and New Delhi, India (2004).

Merna left her children, extended family, friends, and acquaintances with her gifts of a beautiful smile and a quick wit.  Trusting in the path Jesus showed her, she was generous, always giving far more than she received and sharing her uncomplicated love and wisdom with all.  Hers was a life well-lived and she will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

An online guest registry is available for the family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com

Arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256