Martha Franklin Brockinton Stone

1925 - 2024

Martha Franklin Brockinton Stone

July 30, 1925 - September 17, 2024

Martha Franklin Brockinton Stone, 99, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2024, at Westminster Canterbury, Richmond, VA. She was born July 30, 1925, in Charleston, SC, to David Arthur Brockinton and Franklin Harvey Brockinton. She was predeceased by her parents; two brothers of Charleston, D. A. Brockinton, Jr. and Wilson Harvey Brockinton; and by her former husband, Robert Lecky Stone.

Mrs. Stone is survived by her daughters, Franklin Harvey Stone (David Howard Wenk) of New York City and Martha Ware Bryan (Thomas Pinckney Bryan III) of Richmond; her son, Robert Lecky Stone, Jr. (Teresa Lockard) of Charlottesville; and her former daughter-in-law, Nancy Romm Stone of Charlottesville.

She is also survived by six grandchildren, Thomas Pinckney Bryan IV (Laura), Campbell Bryan Gentil (Conner), Mary Butler Stone Ravneberg (David), Virginia Stone Cramer (Neal), Robert Lecky Stone III (Kristin) and Anne Wenk Cashion (Jack); and by thirteen great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Stone was a graduate of Ashley Hall in Charleston and Hollins College in Roanoke, VA. She also spent fifteen summers at Camp Barnard on Lake Champlain, VT, where, as at Ashley Hall and Hollins, she made many lifelong friends.

In 1949, she began a long career of teaching at St. Catherine's School, beginning with middle school biology. Later, after taking time off to rear her three children, she returned to teach second grade for nearly twenty years, welcoming two generations of Richmond girls to her classroom. She also served shorter stints as director of the summer school and director of the boarding department. After her retirement from St. Catherine's in 1977, she became a sales representative at Equitable Life Insurance Company, and then became the Director of the Medical College of Virginia Alumni Association, from which she retired in 1988.

During the nearly 75 years she lived in Richmond, Mrs. Stone was active in numerous organizations and clubs. A member of the Country Club of Virginia, she was a Class A golfer and avid tennis player into her late eighties. She was also a skilled bridge and mahjong player and enjoyed teaching both games to her children and grandchildren.

At Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, she served on the Board of the Women of the Church and taught the Lydian Women's Bible class for many years. At The Woman's Club of Richmond, she served as board secretary and as the club's librarian. She also served as secretary of the Hollins College Alumnae Board. At Westminster Canterbury Richmond, Mrs. Stone served on many committees including as chair of the library's audio book collection. In 2006 she was the recipient of the Laurel Award for her significant volunteer contribution to the operations of Westminster Canterbury. She was very interested in genealogy, history and family. She was active in both the Rebecca Motte and the Commonwealth Chapters of the National Society of the Daughters of The American Revolution.

Most of all, Mrs. Stone loved her family. She enjoyed family vacations on the Cow Pasture River, international travel with her daughters, and playing with her grandchildren. She loved holding each of her 13 great-grandchildren in her arms.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1627 Monument Avenue on Saturday, October 5th at 2 p.m. Burial in Hollywood Cemetery will be private. The family would like to thank the healthcare staff at Westminster Canterbury for their loving care over the past two years.