Martha Faye Nowell Barranco passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., at the age of 79, surrounded by her loved ones.
Martha Faye is survived by her daughter, Lisa Barranco Eikner of Memphis; granddaughter, Bethany Wright (Clint) of Odessa, Texas, and two great-grandchildren, Garrett and Addison Wright.
Additionally, Martha Faye is survived by her brother, Mickey Nowell of Madison; and her dear friends, Carrie McKeel, Peggy McKeel and Ryan McKeel of Memphis.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Barranco; daughter, Mary Martha Barranco Gaskin; grandson, David Ryan Eikner; sisters, Doris Nowell Farmer, Mildred Nowell Knight and Mavis Nowell Allen.
Martha Faye was born January 28, 1938, in Kosciusko She was the youngest daughter of Etta and Charlie Nowell. She graduated from Kosciusko High School and attended Holmes Community College. Martha was a truly beautiful young lady, and won numerous beauty pageants. Her mother, Etta, liked nothing better than designing and sewing pageant dresses for her daughter. Martha Faye married her husband, whom she adorned, in 1958. They attended St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Grenada, where they lived most of their
married life. They spent many happy years with their two daughters and later two grandchildren. Martha Faye was living at Harbor View Nursing Home in Memphis at the time of her death. She always had a pleasant, sweet smile on her face and loved being with her friends and especially her family. She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, brother and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held in Woodlawn Cemetery, in Grenada, on Thursday, May 4, at 2 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Thomas Ligon, Mark Nowell, Ryan McKeel, Barrett Strahan, Mark Mabry and Dudley Farmer.
Father Gregory Plata will officiate. Please send donations in her memory to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 450 Faith Drive, Grenada, MS 38901.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Southern Funeral Home of Lexington.
