Martha W. "Marti" Downs

Martha W. "Marti" Downs, age 75, passed away Sunday, September 28, 2014 in Smyrna, TN of heart failure. Born December 30, 1938 in Enterprise, AL, moving to Bartow at a young age. She the daughter of the late J.C. Watkins and Nelle Parrish Watkins. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Shirley Kay Watkins and Linda Watkins Wolfe and a brother, J.L. Watkins. Mrs. Downs graduated from Bartow Summerlin Institute High School, class of 1958 and Florida State University in1962. She taught in the public schools of Gadsden County, FL for over 37 years. Mrs. Downs was a member of LifePoint Baptist Church of Smyrna, TN. She is survived by her daughter, Aundrea Berkey and son-in-law, Chris of Murfreesboro, TN; two grandchildren, Maxwell and Phoebe; two brothers, Kenneth Watkins and wife Linda of Brandon, FL; Tom Watkins and wife Beverly of Melbourne, Family will receive friends Friday, October 3, 2014 from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow, FL. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Bartow Wildwood Cemetery, Condolences to family at www.whiddenmcleanfuneralhome.com