Martha Ann Morgan Randle

Martha Ann Randle, 88, of Amory, Mississippi, died on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Winston Medical Center in Louisville, Mississippi, following a brief illness.

Born on April 5, 1935, in Ripley, Mississippi, she was the youngest child and only daughter of the late Nicholas Nathaniel and Ada Manning Morgan.

On April 22, 1954, she married her late husband, James Madison “Josh” Randle, in Blue Mountain. A talented seamstress, she made her own wedding dress, which she finished the night before the wedding. They settled in Memphis, Tennessee, where they welcomed two sons, Dr. James Steven “Steve” Randle and Richard Madison Randle. The family moved to Aberdeen, Mississippi, in 1963. She relocated to Amory in 2003.

Martha graduated from Blue Mountain High School in 1953, where she was a talented softball and basketball player and was voted most beautiful by her classmates. 

Martha was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who took great pride in her family. She loved spending time outdoors, tending her garden and growing any number of flowers and plants. She was a keen card shark and enjoyed playing hearts and canasta with her close friends nearly every Friday evening for many years. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed spending time in her kitchen preparing delicious homemade meals for her family, friends, and neighbors. She also loved her cats through the years, especially the few that showed up at her door to make a new home. She was a kind and caring woman with a warm and gentle smile. 

At a time when few women owned businesses, she was a trailblazing female entrepreneur as the co-owner and operator of the Flower Basket flower shop on Main Street in Aberdeen along with friends and business partners Nita Fitzpatrick and Rosalie Furr.

Suddenly widowed at 36, Martha was a devoted mother and steadfast provider for her sons, raising them to be men of good character and integrity. Her perseverance, buttressed by her strong faith, made her the hero of her family. Through them, she leaves behind a lasting legacy of faith, love, and resilience.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Ross Morgan, Emanuel Morgan, and an unnamed brother who died in infancy, as well as her first cousin and close friend, Trudy Bradford.

She is survived by her sons, Dr. James Steven Randle (Tracy) of Amory, MS; Richard Madison Randle (Brandi) of Louisville, MS; grandchildren, David Madison Randle (Emily) of Madison, MS; Joshua Steven Randle (Alexandra) of Washington, D.C., James Cowan Randle of Nashville, TN, Cooper Nolan Randle, and MadiAnn Morgan Randle, both of Louisville, MS; and great-grandchildren, David Finley “Finn” Randle, Eleanor Renee Randle, Ann Louise Randle, Margaret Ann Randle, and James Peters “Peter” Randle; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life graveside service will be held at Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery in Aberdeen at 11 A.M. on Monday, July 3, with Reverend Wesley Pepper officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Visitation will take place from 10 AM until 10:45 AM prior to the service at Tisdale Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Aberdeen. Due to the extreme heat, cool, comfortable clothing is encouraged. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Amory Humane Society or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be shared at tisdalelannmemorialfuneralhome.com.