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Martha Wilson Obituary
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Martha Myrle Salter Wilson, widow of Ohlen Rudolph Wilson, Sr., died Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Covenant Place in Sumter, South Carolina. Born in 1928 to Myrle and James Ira Salter in Greenville, Alabama, Martha was the second of six children. She was raised in a Christian family and learned to know and love God as a young child.
After high school graduation, Martha followed her brother Jim to Berea College in Kentucky. While there, she met Ohlen at a fellowship lunch after church. Martha graduated with a degree in nursing, married Ohlen in 1951, and they moved to Richmond for Ohlen to attend Medical College of Virginia. Working as a nurse at MCV, her tender and compassionate care demonstrated her lifelong love for and devotion to others.
As a kind, fun-loving, supportive wife, and mother of five children, Martha was always up for an adventure such as taking their children fishing or riding a tandem bicycle with family or friends. She often hosted people for delicious home-cooked meals and taught her children to be hospitable. Martha lived a life of service to others: singing in the choir, teaching about missions at her church, looking for ways to serve her community, and traveling abroad with Ohlen on mission endeavors.
Known for her loyal friendship, quick smile, and kind words, Martha was always interested in getting to know others. She was appreciative of the care she received at Covenant Place, often thanking the kind nursing staff for their help. Martha enjoyed writing poems and continued sending encouraging cards to her many friends well into her 90's. She loved all babies and children, her family, and especially her husband, Ohlen, to whom she was happily married for 74 years. Martha was a truly beautiful soul who lived and loved well.
Surviving family members include two brothers, five children, thirteen grandchildren, and eighteen great grandchildren.
Brothers: Bill Salter (Helen) and Ed Salter.
Children: Sharon Wilson Dowdy (Larry-deceased), Martha Louise Wilson (Jim Wood), Ohlen Rudolph Wilson Jr. (Mary), Walter Bradley Wilson (Amy), Timothy Mark Wilson (Becky).
Grandchildren: David Dowdy, Erin Quirk (Matt), Matthew Wood (Stephanie Mitchell), Allison Wood (Peter Ahl), Kristen Wood (Bobby Smith), Katy Wilson-Fields (Lydia), Daniel Wilson (Jenna), Lauren Payne (Taylor), Luke Wilson (Taylor), Mark Wilson (Emma), Andrew Wilson (Kylie Fletcher), Rachel Potthoff (Robbie), James Wilson (Annaleigh).
Great grandchildren: Chessie Dowdy, Ethan Quirk, Owen Quirk, Brody Ahl, Bailey Ahl, Ellis Smith, Baby Girl Smith (due in January), Parker Wilson-Fields, Miles Wilson-Fields, Olivia Wilson, Foster Wilson, Rudi Rose Wilson, Wilson Payne, Jack Payne, Charlotte Payne, Laurel Wilson-Fletcher, Timothy Wilson III, and Jane Mae Wilson.
Memorial Service will be held Saturday January 3, at 2 pm at Covenant Place Family Enrichment Center, Sumter, SC.
Private burial will be held at Greenhaven Preserve.
Memorials may be sent to MAP International (Medicine for All People) PO Box 96487 Washington DC 20090-6487.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Berea College
January 11, 2026
On behalf of the entire Berea College community, I write to mourn the loss of a beloved Berea alum. I send sincere condolences from 26,000 Berea College alumni. With deepest sympathy, Chad Berry, Vice President for Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy
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EVELYN BEAMER
January 10, 2026
My most vivid memories of Martha are her smile and her encouragement to me. She was such an active member of the New River Baptist Association WMU. I was also a mission minded member. A special memory I cherish is when she asked me to come to Galax First Baptist and do a presentation on foreign missions for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. It included the men too, not just WMU members. At the end she gave me a poinsettia. She always searched me out and made me feel special.
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