Martha Singletary

Celebration of Life services for Mrs. Martha Claire Singletary will be held Thursday, November 7, 2019,
at 11 a.m., at Jones Memorial Presbyterian Church in Meridian with visitation from 10 – 11 a.m., at the
church. Interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery.
Mrs. Singletary, 89, of Meridian, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at her home.
She was born April 4, 1930 in Meridian, MS, to Robert (Edd) Cowan and Ruby Miller Cowan and grew up
in the Oakland Heights Community. She was raised and baptized in Oakland Heights Presbyterian
Church of which her father was a founding member. After graduating from Meridian High School,
Martha Claire married Ed Singletary. They raised their children Eddie, Amy, Allan Wade, and Nancy in
Hattiesburg, Laurel, and lastly, Meridian, adding Laura Lee to the sibling mix in the midst of raising four
teenagers. After Ed’s passing, Martha Claire began working as a teacher assistant at Parkview
Elementary. She loved and nurtured many, many of Meridian’s children and even some of her own
grandchildren who attended Parkview. She retired in 2001 and immediately began doing what she did
best – taking care of more babies as a “nanny” -- all the while loving and helping nurture her own
grandchildren.
Martha Claire wore many hats. First and foremost, she was a beloved mother and grandmother, aunt,
friend, and teacher. She went by many names -- Mrs. Singletary, Mrs. Secretary, NeeNee, Mamaw,
Doey, Mrs. Martha, and best of all – Mama. She loved spending time with her family; and before her
illness, she enjoyed bowling locally and with a traveling group of lifelong bowling buddies. She loved
traveling with her children and grands to the mountains, the beach at Ft. Morgan, Disney World, even
New York, and Birmingham, Montgomery, and Jackson for shopping trips with her daughters and
daughter-in-law. She loved to go! But nothing was more special to her than just being home with her
children and grandchildren coming and going in her house. Martha Claire played Bunko with the same
group of ladies for nearly 20 years and quilted with her beloved Jones Memorial ladies every Thursday at
the Church. She always had a sewing project going on for family and friends (especially creating
homemade Raggedy Ann/Andy dolls.) Cooking was one of her greatest talents, turning out Southern
meals and desserts on a “dime’s notice” for anyone who stepped through her front door. She was also a
lifelong cat lover, and up until her illness, could beat anyone in a game of Scrabble! Martha Claire
Cowan Singletary was loving, giving, unassuming, but definitely sharp and sassy! Just ask her
grandchildren! Her home church, Jones Memorial Presbyterian (pastored by her son Allan) was where
she celebrated her faith and love of Jesus with family members, many of her lifelong friends, and
treasured new friends with whom she immediately bonded.
Martha Claire Cowan Singletary – what a life here on Earth – now in Heaven in the middle of a joyful
homecoming with family and loved ones.
She is survived by her son, Allan Wade Singletary (Vickie); daughters, Amy Deen (Tim); Nancy Scott
(Doug); Laura Lee Crocker (Derek); grandchildren, Ashley Lawless (Ed), Lesley Singletary, Bailey
Singletary, Rachael Clayton (John), Anna Smithhart (Will), Neil Deen (Julie), Parker Singletary and his
mother, Kathy Singletary, Eric Scott, Kyle Scott (Hannah), Jenna Scott, Emma Claire Crocker, Abby
Crocker; great-grandchildren, Sully Lawless, Elah Scott, Jonah Scott, Adeline Smithhart, Dolly Smithhart,
and Ellis Clayton; nieces, Kathi Bjork, Susanne Dullack, Joellyn Creamer, Denise Rashall, Dawn Broderson,
B. K. Huffmaster and her one and only nephew, Bill Harper.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward B. Singletary, Jr.; son, Edward B. Singletary, III; her
parents, Robert E. (Edd) and Ruby Miller Cowan; brother, Bob Cowan, and sister, Inez Harper.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, please donate to Palmer Home for Children, P. O. Box 746,
Columbus, MS 39703 or Jones Memorial Presbyterian Church, 4415 Royal Road, Meridian, MS 39307.
The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the many Earthly angels who cared for our
mother and grandmother in her home for the last 18 months: Shunte and Tammy Weston, Kimberly
McGrew, Tammie McDade, Ruby Knox, Lula Scarbrough, Mary Ann Rush, Jessica Walker, Rita Wright,
Eunice McGrew, Mary Brooks, Halcyon Hospice of Philadelphia and their angels Tiffany Hickman,
Brittany Hollingsworth, Randy Schafer, Charlotte Foster, Brother Randy Miller, and Brother Melvin
Mordecai, along with many others who came in and out of her home offering solace to our mother and
the family.