Martha Gafford

Martha Clyde Grice Gafford, passed away on May 6, 2013 at the age of 79, following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Funeral services were held on Thurs., May 9, 2013 at Cinco Baptist Church in Ft. Walton Beach, FL with Dr. Mickey Hawkins officiating. Burial followed in Black Cemetery, Black, AL with Pittman Funeral Home, Geneva, AL, directing. Mrs. Gafford was born in Geneva Co., AL on Feb. 1, 1934, to John Soloman and Clara Huggins Grice. She was a resident of Ft. Walton Beach since 1965. Mrs. Gafford was a former resident of Montg., AL, and a 1952 graduate of Sidney Lanier HS. She was employed with the AL St. Welfare Dept. and the AL St. Employment office while attending night classes at the Univ. of AL on Bell St. Mrs. Gafford was a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church whose then pastor John Bob Riddle performed the ceremony uniting her and Mr. Gafford in marriage. Shortly after the marriage, they moved to Mobile where she transferred to the Mobile Employment Office. They lived in Mobile until Brookley Field closed, at which time they moved to Ft. Walton Beach. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant brother John Wayne Grice; infant sister, Clara Clovette Grice; son-in-law, Richard Franszczak; brother-in-law, Claude Hammac; nephew, Bill McDonald and great-niece Mandy Leigh Strouse. Mrs. Gafford is survived by her husband of 57 years, Charles Gafford; two daughters, Lisa Gafford Franszczak and Linda Ellen Gafford and husband Gary Surdell; one son, Stephen Charles Gafford (Jean); eight grandchildren; three sisters, Sheralyn Grice McDonald (Elton), Karen Grice Hammac and Evelyn Grice Gengenbacher (Jerry) and one brother, Richard N. Grice (Charlie Faye). Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL, 17, Chicago, IL, 60601.