MARTHA HUNT ROBERTSON HUIE

Martha Hunt Robertson Huie, 83, educator, artist, and mentor died on May 6, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee, where she had lived since 1986. Her roots were deep in Jackson County, Alabama where she was born March 5, 1931, to Ben and Grace Hunt. Martha graduated from Jackson County High School in 1949 and married hometown sweetheart, James “Shorty” Robertson, in 1950. She taught in the Jackson County School System throughout the 1960’s and was active in numerous local organizations that promoted the arts and history. Martha graduated cum laude from the University of North Alabama with a double major in Secondary Education and Art. She later earned her Master of Arts from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. From 1970 to 1983, Martha was the Dept. Head and Instructor for the Art Dept. at Snead State Junior College. Later Martha taught art history at the University of Memphis. In 1977, Martha married author and journalist, William Bradford Huie. She supported him as his research assistant and traveled with him as he continued to speak to audiences who admired his 50 years’ work producing 21 books and thousands of magazine and newspaper articles. Since his death in 1986, she took charge of archiving and arranging placement of his papers at the Ohio State University and the University of Alabama Special Collections libraries. She loved the outdoors and was an extraordinary Girl Scout leader. She especially enjoyed learning to fly a plane, rafting down the Colorado River, swimming, and playing tennis. A service to celebrate her life will be held at the Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama on Saturday, May 10, from 2 - 4 p.m. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Ben Robertson Heflin (John) of Memphis, and Jamie Robertson Lendrum (Peter), of Phoenix; grandsons, Rob Heflin, Jack Heflin and Alex Lendrum. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Methodist Healthcare Foundation for Hospice Care Attn: Alex Roberts at 1211 Union Avenue, Suite 450, Memphis, TN 38104.