Martha A. Pembroke was 97 years old when she passed away in Sarasota, Florida. She was born in Abbeville to Claude and Amma Pettis Anderson. She attended the University of Mississippi and after graduating in 1941, moved to Washington D.C. She met her husband, Robert, when she worked in Memphis with the US Army Material Command, Department of Defense. She raised Manx cats and was an animal lover all of her life. Upon retirement in 1972, she, Robert and Rita Murphy (her cat) moved to Clearwater, Florida. Martha was a good athlete and took up running at the age of 59. She hung up her shoes at age 80. In 1984, Martha was the Tampa Bay Running Council’s “Runner of the Year.”

Martha was a loyal fan of Ole Miss football. She followed women’s college basketball and especially enjoyed following players from Abbeville. She was an avid reader and loved to travel. She was predeceased by her brother Malcolm Anderson, sister Alice Smith and nephew David Smith.

She is survived by her nieces Cathie (Mike) Hawkins of Sarasota, Barbara (Bill Hannon) Anderson of Washington D.C., and nephew John (Diane) Anderson of Sterling Heights, Michigan. She will be dearly missed by her great nieces Martha Hodgson of Tallahassee and Amy Hodgson, LT. JG (USN) of Oxnard, California. She concedes the family longevity contest to her cousin, Sarah Freeman (age 104) of Memphis.

A memorial service will be held at Waller Funeral Home on Saturday, July 29 with Rev. Randy Hope officiating. Visitation is at 10 a.m. with the service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Abbeville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Martha’s memory can be made to First Baptist Church of Abbeville, 15 E. Long Street, Abbeville, MS 38601.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.