Ida Martha Finley Cantrell

Ida Martha Finley Cantrell went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus on May 5, 2021 at the age of 83.

Martha was born to Willie Mae Benjamin Finley and Ernest Edward Finely on August 3, 1937 in Pickens, South Carolina. As a child, she played the drums in the marching band, and helped her father in their family-owned grocery store alongside her sister Francis and brother Ernest Jr.

Upon graduating high school, Martha moved to Atlanta to pursue a career as a Registered Nurse. She attended Crawford W. Long Nursing School in Atlanta, then went on to work as a registered nurse in pediatrics then spent most of her years at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. She cared for Dr Martin Luther King Jr at the downtown location, which was Saint Joseph’s Infirmary at the time. She served there faithfully 33 years and retired as the Director of Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Pain Center. She was treasured by all the staff she mentored.

Martha married her love William Horace Cantrell on July 3, 1964 and went on to have two daughters, Catherine Elaine Cantrell Eubanks (Robby) and Martha Elizabeth Cantrell Keyton (Dave).

In addition to being a dedicated and loving mother, her passion was being Mamie to Katie and Kevin and Nana to Jarrett and Jenna whom she lavished with her love and caring spirit. She also enjoyed getting out and walking in her neighborhood. Throughout her life she held an unwavering faith in her Lord, which she shared His love to those who surrounded her.

Martha joins Horace, as well as her father, mother and sisters in Heaven. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands Cathy, Robby, Liz and Dave, loving grandchildren Martha Kate (Katie), Kenneth Jarrett, Kevin Robert and Jenna Mae as well as a brother and wife, Ernest Finley Jr and Karen, nieces and nephews, sister in laws Wilma Burkett, Linda Schreck, Margaret Brown, Iona Dodson, Jaen Cantrell and brother-in-law Dalton Schreck.  

She was loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her.  

Funeral services will be on Saturday, May 8th, 2021 at 11:00 am at North Lanier Baptist Church in Cumming, Georgia.

Burial will be on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 11:00 am in Pickens South Carolina at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.

Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899