MARTHA ANN GRIFFITH

MARTHA ANN (HANNAWALD) GRIFFITH Martha Ann Griffith, 87, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2024, at Brighton Gardens of St. Charles, with family by her side. She was born on May 11, 1937, in Pratt, KS, to Quenten and Alberta (Mitchell) Hannawald. Martha graduated from Pratt High School, attended Pratt Junior College, and earned her teaching degree from Southwestern College. In June 1960, Martha married her high school sweetheart, Bob Griffith, and moved to Peoria, IL, where she taught second grade. In 1965, they relocated to Phoenix, AZ, where Martha discovered her joy for creating ceramics, combining her love of art with Native American and Southwestern motifs. In 1972, the family settled in Aurora, IL, where Martha continued her journey in the arts and education by teaching pottery to scout groups, participating in the United Arts Board and Aurora Art League, and giving pottery demonstrations for schools, including an artist in-residence program for 600 students at Gates School. She exhibited her work at local art fairs and co-founded the artist collective EGOS with three close friends. In 1989, Martha's commissioned ornament for the Burlington Northern Roundhouse won second place in a competition to represent Aurora on the State of Illinois Christmas tree in Chicago. Martha co-founded the pottery program at Blackberry Farm in Aurora and was instrumental in building the ceramics studio at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in Saint Charles, IL, where she taught for 25 years. In 2012, the studio was named in her honor, recognizing her many contributions. Martha was a kind, loving soul who brought joy to everyone she met. She infused her love of art, teaching, and caring for others into everything she did, and this spirit shone through until the very end, even offering comfort to those who sought to comfort her. She often reflected on how creating ceramics mirrored life: starting from the earth, being shaped into something beautiful, and eventually returning to the ground. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her brother John, her sister Dottie, and her husband Bob. She is survived by her son Jim (Sarah Sylvester Griffith), daughter Annette (Brian Ohlsen), and grandchildren Kae and Kyra Ohlsen. A memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. May St., Aurora, IL 60506 on Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at 11:00 am with a luncheon to follow. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora or the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles. For further information, please call 630-897-9291 or visit www.healychapel.com to leave an online condolence.