Vivian Jamison Martin

Vivian Jamison Martin, 97, of Boones Mill, Va., died Monday, June 15, 2009, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, three days following a massive stroke. Born March 16, 1912, at Boones Mill, she was a lifelong resident of Franklin County with the exception of two years attending Madison College (now James Madison University) and her final three years at South Roanoke Nursing Home. She survived her beloved husband of 75 years, C.A. "Neal" Martin by only ten months. She was the daughter and fifth child of Cornelius Carper Jamison, a farmer and onetime sheriff of Franklin County, and Ellen Ikenberry Jamison. She was educated in the Franklin County Public Schools where she also taught for several years after obtaining her teacher's certificate at Madison. In 1933 she married Neal, and they settled on farmland near her homeplace purchased from her father and from the Montgomery family. Through the Great Depression and World War II and into the 1960's Vivian and Neal shared in the chores on the farm, which ultimately became a poultry operation. Along the way they raised and saw to the education of three children. Vivian was the equal of her husband in gathering, grading, washing and packing eggs. Throughout the years she was active in her church and in the activities of her community. She led a simple life, which was her preference. Her inherent shyness masked, however, her will and determination to see that things were done right. She possessed to the end a remarkable recollection of names and events involving family, friends and neighbors. "If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. She will not hinder him, but help him all her life." Proverbs 31.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Claude Jamison and Lewis Jamison; two sisters, Clytie Jamison Naff and Ethel Jamison Naff. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, C.J. Martin and Lynn Martin, of Kenbridge, Va., Suzanne Martin Brown and Daniel Brown, of Roanoke, and Mary Martin Stafford and William Stafford, of Goochland County, Va.; by six grandchildren, Neal Martin, Jenny Clark, Monty Stafford, Kristy Bauer, Daniel Brown Jr., and Amy B. Peterson; by her sister, Janet J. Sanders, of Bristol, and her husband, James Sanders; and by 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted from Gogginsville United Methodist Church 10 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Bradley S. Dulaney and the Rev. J. Willard Bowman officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gogginsville United Methodist Church, 111 Gogginsville Road, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151. Her family will be receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Flora Funeral Service, Rocky Mount. www.florafuneralservice.com.