Martha Bostick

Martha Mae Daniel Bostick, 85, of Iuka, Mississippi, died Sunday, June 19, 2016, at her son’s residence in Huntsville, Alabama.

Martha was born with a head full of black hair on February 5, 1931, to Felix Edward and Littie Mae Daniel. She was raised in the Snowdown community and said she knew exactly where she was standing when she gave her soul to Christ at Snowdown Methodist Church. She knew of hard work and toil, proclaiming to be her daddy’s “plow boy” working in fields of cotton and corn; sawing firewood for warmth and cooking; doing homework by kerosene light; making homemade lye soap; carrying water to the house from a spring up a steep hill and walking several miles to school carrying biscuits in a pail, but boy, oh boy when quittin’ time came! When the chores were done, she could usually be found playing in the woods with brothers, sisters, cousins, and neighbors. She was known, even at a young age, for pranks such as putting a sparkler to her sister’s doll’s face.

She told of being terrified of becoming an old maid, and at the age of fifteen married returning US Army Veteran, Leland Bostick. In one of the poems she wrote, she says she was blessed to have five children in their nest. Surviving her are three children who arise and call her blessed, Danny Bostick (Peggy) of Huntsville, AL; Wanda Bostick Little of Memphis, TN: and Cindy Bostick Murrah (Benny) of Iuka, MS. She was a loving Ma-Maw to 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Preceding Martha in death are her husband, Leland; two sons, Steve and Roger; an infant grandson; all her siblings and her parents.

Martha was of the Southern Baptist faith and a member at South Crossroads Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, sang alto in the choir, was a prayer warrior, and reached out of the church building itself to reach the unchurched. She also enjoyed Christian fellowship at New Prospect Baptist, Springhill Methodist, and Burgess Creek. Having a US veteran husband and three sons who served our country in the US Army, Martha was known to be a patriot in her support to all veterans. She also has one grandson and one great-grandson who followed a called to serve our country.
Throughout the years, when not hoeing the fields, Martha was employed at Blue Bell Manufacturing, ITT Telecom, and was the last greeter to be employed at Iuka Walmart. She made “families” out of friends wherever she worked.
She enjoyed sending and receiving greeting cards and letters, doing so just less than a week before her death. She was the hands and feet of Christ, providing possibly hundreds of pots of chicken and dumplings to those in times of need. It was important to her to give people their flowers while they lived; often times that meant growing and arranging a literal bouquet she herself gathered.
Throughout her life, she had a zest for living, regardless of the situations surrounding her, because she knew her strength came from God Almighty, She never outgrew her spunk and wit. Her zest for life was evidenced by what become her trademark, red lipstick, which she wore if only just to walk to the mailbox.

Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2016, at South Crossroads Baptist Church. The body will lie in state for one hour prior to service time at the church on Wednesday. Services will be officiated by Bro Jimmy Daniel, Bro. Tim Ryan, and Bro. Merle Dixon. Interment will follow in South Crossroads Cemetery. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. An online guestbook can be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.