Martha C. Myers

Martha Carolyn Myers was born July 25, 1930 to Willie Daniels and Essie (Shavers) Daniels in Malvern, Hot Springs County, Arkansas. She departed this life on March 17, 2015. Martha attended Malvern Negro High School in Malvern graduating in May 1948. She then matriculated at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. In her sophomore year at Philander Smith, she met Lacy M. Myers who became the love of her life. Although she was ‘cool’ towards him at first, she soon came to know what he knew from the moment he first laid eyes on her standing in line at the registrar – that she would one day be his wife. Martha and Lacy were married on June 5, 1950 in Little Rock, Arkansas. To this union were born Rita, Michael, Marsha, Patricia and Carol. Martha left Philander Smith and moved into her role as ‘mom’ and working wife as she traveled with Lacy to Bloomington, Indiana as he pursued his master’s degree at Indiana University. In the mid 1950’s, Martha and Lacy became parents to many other children (at times numbering up to 20 or more) as they became foster parents at Florence County Foster Home for Colored Children in Florence, S.C. While Lacy worked as a guidance counselor at Wilson High School, Martha managed and maintained the day-to-day operations of the home and cared for the children. Throughout her life she maintained a “mother” relationship with these children, watching them grow into adults and becoming grandmother and great-grandmother to their children. When one of the boys (Willie Gerald, Jr.) “aged-out” at the home, they adopted him. In 1960, Lacy accepted a position as guidance counselor at William C. Jason High School in Georgetown, Delaware and the family moved to Laurel, Delaware. Martha was a stay-at-home mom but occasionally substitute taught at schools in Laurel and Frankford. In 1965, the family moved to Dover, Delaware as Lacy had begun working as a counselor at Bancroft Jr. High School in Wilmington, DE. Martha completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education at Delaware State College (University) in May of 1968. In September 1968, Martha began teaching 4th grade at Towne Point Elementary in Dover and taught there for 27 years, retiring in June 1995. While at Towne Point, she received several awards. In 1984 she received recognition for taking on a challenging 3rd grade class, completely turning them around; in 1992 she was inducted into Who’s Who Among American Teachers; and in 1994, she was voted Teacher of the Year. She was an avid reader, coin collector and stamp collector. Martha accepted Christ at a young age and lived her life honoring Christ and Christian values. She loved people and was a philanthropist supporting numerous organizations, especially those on behalf of children. She was affiliated with Mt. Zion AME Church and Healing Wings Christian Center both of Dover. She had been active in the Delaware State College Alumni Association and Active Adults at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her adopted son Willie Gerald, Jr., foster daughter Margie Gerald, and her sister Rosie Lee Gray. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Lacy M. Myers; daughter, Rita Myers of Malvern, AR and Norcross, GA; son, Michael Sr. (Debbie) of Dover, DE; daughters, Marsha Collick (Tyrone) of New Castle, DE, Patricia Hooper (James Jr.) of Duluth, GA and Carol Myers (fiancé, Michael Monahan) of Dover, DE; grandsons, Michael Jr. (Jameka) of Chino Hills, CA and Brett (Catherine) of Dover, DE; granddaughter, Inyce Myers of Norcross, GA; grandson, James III of Duluth, GA; great-granddaughter Keira Myers of Chino Hills, CA; great-grandson, Tristan Myers of Dover, DE; foster children, Phyllis Boyd of Suitland, MD, Ernest Gerald of Suitland, MD and Nathaniel Robinson (Ann) of Dover, DE and their families; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends she claimed as children. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Martha C. Myers, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Martha C. Myers

July 25, 1930 - March 17, 2015