Martha Paschall Thacker

Martha Juanita Paschall Thacker, 66, of Bolivar, Missouri, passed from her earthly journey into her real home above on the morning of Friday, November 19, 2010. Though pronounced dead at the hospital with specific instructions not to be resuscitated, she miraculously revived, and continued long enough to be taken home. There, according to her desire and God's design, she passed peacefully into His arms, surrounded by her family.

Martha was born on February 2, 1944, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the fourth of the eight children of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Spurgeon Paschall. She was united in marriage to Bernard L. Thacker, in Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 7, 1966. In 1977, the couple became part of the extended family of her sister, Jettie Laura Hitchcock, and her husband, Michael, and lived the remainder of her life in their home. In the last few months, she participated in the recording of a number of Scripture songs for our family ministry website, freescripturesongs.org; her voice, featured on most of these songs, is now being heard around the world.

Martha was a wonderful wife, sister, aunt, and companion, an integral part of our lives, and she will be greatly missed by all of us until the day of our final reunion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Carroll Finley.

She is survived by her husband, Bernard Thacker; her siblings and their spouses, Dr. and Mrs. James H. Johnson (Ellen) of Asheville, North Carolina, Pastor and Mrs. David Johnson (Rebecca) of Charlottesville, Virginia, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hitchcock (Jettie) of Bolivar, Missouri, Mr. and Mrs. Matt McIntire (Rachael) of Bolivar, Missouri, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Paschall of Winston Salem, North Carolina, and Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Paschall of Orange, Virginia; special nieces and nephews, Jeremy, Jennie, Lissi, Timothy, Zachary and Jason; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and other family for whom she cared.

Martha's life was completely devoted to Jesus Christ, and the gratitude and service that she exemplified were, and will continue to be, an inspiration to all who knew her. We grieve for our loss, but we rejoice for her gain, the eternal reward which she is even now enjoying. "Jesus said unto her (Martha): I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Pitts Chapel of Bolivar.