Martha Lucinda Reid, 77, of Fulton, passed away on June 10, 2024, after a long illness. “Martha Lou” was born on February 10, 1947, to Howard and Florence Jennie (Buchanan) Jenkins in Madison, IN. Martha was married to Bob Reid on October 2, 1991, in Fulton after he just kept showing up at her door.
Martha didn’t know a stranger, she would’ve given the shirt off her back to anyone who needed it. She was fierce and a fighter. Martha was born with one leg shorter than the other and had multiple hip surgeries. She told us how her mom sat her by the window so she could see out when she had a body cast. She had her first child at 17, a preemie, and lost her husband to a car accident the same year. She worked in a factory for 20 years and eventually became the president of the union. She left the factory and traveled the country as a union organizer. She was the Norma Rae of her time; she even signed the factory that Norma Rae couldn’t. She had a lung collapse while out union organizing, immediately quit smoking and never looked back. She worked her bottom off as her lungs were failing her to get herself healthy enough to qualify for a lung transplant. She had a double lung transplant in May 2007. The average life after a double lung transplant is 6-7 years. She survived over 17 years after her transplant!
When she was a single mom, she took her kids to church every Sunday and welcomed 2-3 other families into her home Sunday afternoons. She wasn’t wealthy but was rich with friends and neighbors who enjoyed visiting her home or stopping by for a cup of coffee.
She volunteered for Donate Life Indiana traveling to BMVs to educate the staff and volunteered at community events to get donors signed up. She particularly enjoyed working at the South Bend Cubs games. She was grateful everyday for the lungs gifted to her. She also spent time volunteering at Shepherd’s Closet and Matthew’s Market to help others who were experiencing food insecurities, homelessness or who needed a helping hand.
Martha and Bob married and they were each other’s rock since 1991. She is a loyal friend and remains friends with folks from high school, from the factory, from union organizing and her besties Pat Bingle of 50 years and Shelley Baker of 40 years! Her other long-time friend Connie Hartman proceeded her in death. Martha was loved fiercely.
Martha is survived by her husband Bob, her sister Naomi Elizabeth Mack, Madison, IN; her three children Jennifer Lee Martin (Mike), Fulton, IN, Clair Keith Stewart II (Amy), Milford, MI, and Monica Lynn Barnett (Frank), Mason, OH; eight grandchildren Sarah Elizabeth Martin, Fulton, IN, Johnathan Michael Luke Martin (Hannah), Logansport, IN, Mackenzie Barry Barnett, Mason, OH, Tyler Zachary Stewart, Milford, MI, Brooklyn Sophia Barnett, Mason, OH, Lucas Keith Stewart, Milford, MI, Kyle Ryan Barnett, Mason, OH, and Adam Michael Stewart, Milford, MI. Martha had two great grandchildren Alivia Grace Martin and Noah Christopher Wagoner, Fulton, IN.
Martha was predeceased by her first husband, Luke Don Cloyd, her parents, Nathan Howard and Florence Jennie Jenkins, her siblings Norma Jean Jenkins, James William Jenkins, Betty Lou Henderson, Anna Catherine Geyman, Esla Curtis Jenkins, Myrtle Beatrice Brierly, Nathan Howard Jenkins Jr. and one grandchild, Alex Stewart.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you sign up to become an organ donor or make donations to Donate Life Indiana or IU Methodist Hospital Transplant Unit, Indianapolis.
A time to Celebrate Martha’s life will take place from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Sunday, June 16, 2024 at the Fulton Community Building, 204 E. Dunn Street, Rochester (Fulton), Indiana.
Arrangements by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, Indiana.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com
