Martha Warren

Martha "Dixie" Warren announced years ago, "I want to live long enough to see what my grandchildren are going to do." Well, at 96 2/3 years old, she accomplished that goal as her grandchildren are all grown and doing fine. On July 31st Dixie died in her home of almost 61 years, taking her last breath immediately after a long low rumble of thunder. One of her children asked her, "do you think that (thunder) is for you?" And, just like that, she was on to the next thing, most likely telling dad what he has missed these last 5 ½ years.

If you knew her, we would say you were fortunate for she was a woman of many talents and one who stayed true to her convictions. Perhaps you were in one of the plays she directed or one of her students. We are confident, if you knew her, you learned at least one obscure, yet vital, tidbit about manners. After all, is there anything more important than manners? No, no there is not.

One might be tempted to describe our mom as being broad minded but we would say, "no, she was simply sensible." For it doesn't take a broad mind to know one is no better than her fellow humans based on things over which she had no control such as skin color, religion of one's birth, country of origin, sexual orientation, height and the list goes on and on. She understood it as simply sensible to acknowledge that she was no more or less precious as a human than all the other humans and a belief of inherent superiority would be pure folly.

Dixie was pre-deceased by her husband of 70+ years, The Rev. Hallie D Warren, Jr. and her beloved eldest grandchild, K.C. George-Warren. She is survived by her children: Hal, BounMi, Paul, Mark, Martha; and her "sister" Maggie; and seven grandchildren.

A service to celebrate her beautiful life will take place at St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Ashland Terrace on Tuesday, August 19, at 4:30 p.m. Food and fellowship will follow.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, 423 877-3524, lanefh.com.