Martha Aretta Rich Wilkie Canup Meeks

Martha Aretta Rich Wilkie Canup Meeks, born to Elias D. and Ora Washington Kay Rich in Cherokee County, Georgia on May 18, 1917. Married to Ernest Wilkie in 1931, daughter Mary Frances born on August 6, 1933. After losing her husband to an automobile accident she moved with her daughter to Hall County in 1940 to begin a new life with her parents. She immediately found employment and began supporting herself and her young daughter. She met Samuel Edward Canup in 1946 and they were married in January 1947. Nancy Ann Ora was born on January 8, 1950. Eddie passed away on August 21, 1950 after battling cancer leaving her a widow with a young daughter once again. She went about the business of raising her family and met Doug Meeks in 1953 after his return from Korea. He was delivering groceries for his brother at Meeks Grocery and in the process of opening Doug's Drive-Inn Restaurant. He offered Martha a job and she went to work as a part time cashier. Doug left the café for his father to run for him and started school at Southern Tech and took a job at Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta. Martha and Doug reconnected in 1954. They began to date and married in 1957. In the meantime they expanded Doug's Drive Inn and resumed full time operation again. Martha ran the restaurant while Doug worked at Lockheed. When he wasn't working at Lockheed they were side by side working at Doug's Drive Inn. She was famous for her "home cooking", cobblers, pies, and banana pudding. They owned and operated Doug's until 1967 when they sold it to Doug's daddy and brother. They continued to be involved in restaurant work until 1998 at the Cattle auction restaurant and the North Georgia Auto Auction on Atlanta Hwy. and Oakwood Auto Auction on McEver Road becoming famous for her "country steak & gravy", home made fried pies, and lemonade. She was a strong woman, a hard worker, a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She loved her family and gave everything she could to them. Her Monday night suppers, holiday dinners, and country breakfast were enjoyed by her family and anyone fortunate enough to put their feet under her table or sit a the breakfast bar for her gravy and biscuits. She is going to be missed by many but her family will celebrate her life and look forward to being with her again walking the streets of gold in Heaven. She was a Bible reader all her life and taught her children that God, the Bible, and praying were the only way to live life. She never drank or smoked and lived a healthy life style. She was active until she had a fall at home and broke her hip in April 2009.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Don, Jep, and L.D. Rich, sisters, Winnie Roland, Willene Pirkle, Ruth Holland, Eloise Gilleland, Ora Mae Hardage and her stepson, Wayne Canup and son-in-law, J. Bussey Smith.

Mrs. Meeks is survived by her husband of 56 years, R. Doug Meeks. A daughter, Mary Frances Wilkie Smith, a daughter Nancy AnnOra Canup Gravitt, son-n-law Robert (Bobby) Gravitt, grandchildren Linda Smith Bailey & Richard, John B. Smith Jr., Edward C. Smith, Anne Smith Saul & Bobby, Robie Gravitt Collins, & Jimmy, Rusty B. Gravitt & Crystal, Rynna Gravitt Kidd & Jason, Richalle Gravitt Ward & Brent. Step daughter-n-law Linda Canup, Spartenburg, S.C., step grandsons Scott Canup and Chuck Canup. Great-grandchildren Brittany Collins DeMore & Caleb, Cashen Philyaw, Bennett Philyaw, Samuel Thomas, Anderson Thomas, Ellie Gravitt, Evan Gravitt, and Erin Smith, Andrew Bailey, Kelly Rosales, John Warren, Spencer Canup, Kendall Canup, and Hunter Canup. Great-great-grandchildren, Emmaline Cooper, Annabelle Smith, and Harper Smith. A great number of nieces and nephews that also loved her very much.

She was a very generous person while in the restaurant business where she provided many meals for hungry travelers that were short on cash and would even provide a ride to the bus station and bus fare on a cold or rainy night. She took care of and mothered many people that walked through the doors of her restaurants. She provided jobs for many members of family at her restaurants helping them get their start in life. Her doors at the business as well as at home were always open to any family member that needed a job or a place to stay.

Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, March 5, 2012 at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home with interment to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Reverend Barry Barron will officiate. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 7