Martha Gail Archbold

Martha Gail Blackburn Archbold was born on June 22, 1945. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 23, 2026, following a quick and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Martha was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, the only child of John Stanley Blackburn and Martha Taylor Blackburn. In 1950, she moved with her parents to White Pine, Tennessee, where she lived until graduating from White Pine High School.

Having dreamed since childhood of becoming a nurse, Martha attended East Tennessee State University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She began her nursing career at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, a profession she loved and faithfully served for many years.

In 1970, she married the love of her life, Dennis Alan Archbold, after a remarkable 34-day courtship. They made their first home in Kingsport, Tennessee, where Martha continued her nursing career at Holston Valley Community Hospital. In 1979, they moved with their two children to Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

After several years as a stay-at-home mother devoted to raising her children, Martha returned to nursing as a Home Care RN, where her compassion and skill continued to bless many patients until her retirement.

Martha will be remembered for her gentle spirit, unwavering faith, and the loving care she showed to her family, friends, and patients throughout her life.

Martha is survived by her husband of 55 years, 5 months and 15 days, Dennis; her daughter, Amy Alcorn (Chris) of Lakewood, Colorado; her son, Alan Archbold (Jodi) of Paducah, Kentucky; and seven dearly loved grandchildren: Benjamin Archbold, Emily Archbold, Jacob Archbold, Paige Alcorn, Everett Alcorn, Sylvia Alcorn, and Brooks Alcorn.

She worshiped faithfully and was an active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The family will receive friends, Saturday, February 7, 2026 between the hours of 10:00am - 12:00pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church 3000 Clearview Court Oak Ridge, TN. Memorial service will follow at 12:00pm. A graveside service will be held at 3:00pm at Hebron Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

Memorial contributions in Martha’s memory may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Archbold family.