Martha Bledsoe

February 1, 2018

CHARLOTTE – Martha Bledsoe died on Feb. 1, 2018 at home, with her loving and devoted husband, children, and grandchildren at her side.

Martha was born on Jan. 5, 1931 in Millingport, Stanly County, North Carolina, the youngest of Walter and Mary Hurlocker’s three daughters. She grew up in Stanly County, and graduated from Virginia Intermont in Bristol, Virginia and Women’s College (now UNC-Greensboro). In 1952, she moved to Charlotte to teach third grade. In 1955, she met a handsome young man in the Singles Class at Myers Park United Methodist Church. Lou Bledsoe Jr. says Martha was the sweetest, prettiest girl he had ever laid eyes on. They were married on April 24, 1957 and over their 60 plus years together, his opinion never changed.

Martha left teaching after their first child, Louis, was born. She found her calling as a piano teacher, helping hundreds of children learn to play the piano for over 50 years. Not only did she nurture and expand their musical talents, she also was a mentor, a trusted advisor, and their greatest cheerleader. Many of her students stayed in touch with her and visited when they were home from college and after graduation. Martha loved to play the piano, and she enjoyed sharing her musical gifts with her family and friends. 

Martha is survived by her husband, Lou Bledsoe Jr., a retired lawyer; two children – Judge Louis Bledsoe III and his wife, Suzanne, of Charlotte, and Dr. Mary Martha Felkner and her husband, Pete, also of Charlotte; her six grandchildren – Dr. Carol Jones and her husband, Sean, of Roanoke, Virginia, and Louis Bledsoe IV, Kathleen Bledsoe, Jack Felkner, David Felkner and Catherine Felkner, all of Charlotte. She is also survived by her sister, Margo McGee, and her husband, J.C., of Asheville, her brothers-in-law, Ron Bledsoe and his wife, Marge, and Ted Bledsoe and his wife, Adaline, all of Huntsville, Alabama, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Marie Jones, and her brother-in-law, Bain Jones. Martha and Lou lost their youngest child, Margaret, in 1996 as a result of a fall during a charity walk against hunger. She was 30 years old, practicing law with her dad. The Bledsoes endured the tragedy with characteristic grace, informally counseling other bereaved parents through their sorrow.

God blessed Martha Bledsoe with a sweet life. She and Lou cherished family beach trips to Pawley’s Island and loved showing their children this beautiful country on numerous cross-country family trips. They were devoted to their church, Myers Park United Methodist. Late in life, they enjoyed sitting down together to watch old TV shows on Netflix. “The West Wing” was a favorite.

Most importantly, Martha lived to see her dream come true: Raising three children to be strong Christians, to be humble, and to do good. She was at peace at the end.

A service to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road. The family will greet visitors after the service in Jubilee Hall.  In lieu of flowers, a gift in Martha’s memory may be made to Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207; her childhood church, Salem United Methodist Church, 20987 N.C. 73 Highway, Albemarle, NC 28001; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.

The family is deeply grateful for the love and care shown Martha and her family during her illness by Visiting Angels and Hospice & Palliative Care - Charlotte Region. 

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, 704-641-7606. Online condolences are welcome at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

 

 

 

 

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  • Harold Lowry

    To the Bledsoe family I wish to extend my sincerest condolences on the death of Mrs. Bledsoe.

  • Harriman Jett

    My deepest sympathy to Lou and his family at this very sad and difficult time. You are held in our thoughts and prayers. May God give you peace and comfort.

  • James Fain

    I have nothing but good memories of taking my daughter Jennifer to piano lessons at Mrs. Bledsoe's. I do have to tell a story that I hope will lighten the hearts of the family. I worked as a telephone line repairman for 25 years and was assigned with some other men to the Bledsoe home neighborhood to repair lines that were down. The area was heavily wooded and we couldn't work on the phone lines until Duke Power had gotten the trees removed and their lines restored. A group of us walked down behind the row of houses and pulled several lines up and began walking out next to the Bledsoe home. Mind you, I wasn't aware that it was their home because I had been working in the back yards, but as soon as I saw Mrs. Bledsoe and heard her talking I knew it was her. She came storming out of the house extremely agitated about the state of the shrubs and trees in her back yard that had been reduced to stubs by Duke. She proceeded to tell us how she felt in no uncertain terms and in a way I'm sure that any other homeowner would have done had they seen us exiting their property. Except that we were not Duke Power workers, we were Southern Bell workers with the striped hard hats that identified us as such. She was in the middle of her speech which I could not have possibly interrupted, though I had tried, when I thought maybe if I took off my hard hat she would realize that she knew me. As soon as I took off my hat she stopped with a look of horror on her face, apparently because she had blessed out someone she knew, for something they didn't do, and had behaved in an unladylike nature. I am still amused to this day and remember her very fondly because the first words out of her mouth were "Don't tell Jennifer!" which I did of course but not until years later.
    I offer my condolences to the family. She was a lovely lady.

  • Margaret Stewart

    My love and sympathy to Lou and family at the death of his beloved Martha. I met Martha many years ago before she and Lou were married through a mutual friend, Joyce. Martha was a lovely, talented lady and beautiful witness to her Christian faith.

    Margaret Stewart & Family, Charlotte, NC

  • Megan

    My deepest condolences to your family. Continue to cherish the memories you have as you await the time when you will see your loved one again. Revelation 21:4 gives us hope for a time when death will be no more. May the God of all comfort comfort you during this difficult time.

    Your neighbor,
    Megan