Ida Martha Ward Crain

Ida Martha Ward Crain departed this earthly life on November 30, 2016, after a brief battle with cancer but she transitioned to a heavenly home and is now secure with her Lord and Savior for all eternity. Family and close friends surrounded and loved her throughout her illness and passing. Our faithful mother, grandmother, and sister has been re-united with her husband of 12 years, A.D. Crain, along with parents, brothers and sisters. Martha was born November 29, 1932 in Texarkana, Texas to Henry and Ava Lallie Ward and she was one of 12 children, with 8 surviving to adulthood; she was the youngest. She married Chester A. Green in 1950 and they had two children, Hal and Gaynell Green; the Green family lived in Kentucky and California before Martha returned to Texarkana in 1969 with her two children. Caring for her home and children were her priority and she will be always be remembered as a Godly woman with unconditional love and faithful devotion to her family. Mom was a wonderful cook and the kitchen was a traditional venue for ministering to family and friends. After marrying A. D. in April 1979, they served the Lord faithfully at RoseHill Baptist Church. The Texarkana Friendship Center also was a weekly, special ministry in which they served. A. D. and Martha spent countless weekends at Lake Texarkana, a new and different life for our mom. Our mother learned the joy of fishing and camping, becoming an avid fisherwoman. The fish shook when Martha Crain cast her line in the water! In addition to Hal and Gaynell, she is survived by her sister Louise Cummings of Atlanta, grandchildren Laura Green Cuttill of Houston and Phillip Mathew Green of Houston, Adam Garrett Green of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Gaynell "Gigi" Green Dowden of Oklahoma City, OK; her seven great-grandchildren are Tammy Cuttill, Zachary Cuttill, Josiah Cuttill, Savannah Belle Cuttill, Charles Green and Elijah Dowden. Her daughter-in-law Sherri Hernandez Green and a former daughter-in-law of 35 years, Bonny Matthews Green, will remember Martha as an inspiration, encourager, and servant like the biblical example of Barnabus. Her sister-in-law, Cora Crain of Quinlan, loved Martha dearly. She was preceded in death by sisters Pearl Norris, Mary Harper, Winifred Hamm, and brothers Orvil Ward, Clarence Ward and Edward Ward. A celebration service will be held at Noon Saturday, December 3, at Highland Park Baptist Church with Pastor Kevin Myers officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park under the direction of Chapelwood Funeral Home. The family will receive friends after the cemetery service at the Crain/Green home. On-line registration is at chapelwoodfuneralhome.com. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Ms. Crain's caregivers, Tina Hayes and Monta Kay Nantze, for their love and support in her final months. Her dear neighbor, Polly McCrary, has been a faithful, devoted friend to the family in innumerable ways for more than 25 years. We will always be grateful to the Lollis family, Wilborn family, and McCray family for their overwhelming display of love and support. While Martha will be so missed, she is now living in the eternal presence of God and one day we will join her.