Mrs. Martha Gertrude Delaney Curtis: Obituary

Martha Gertrude Delaney Curtis, age 102, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away on April 15, 2017. She was a longtime resident of Hardin County, Tennessee, having moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama in 1997. She had recently moved to Hiawassee, Georgia to live with her daughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Jefferson Curtis, her parents, Ernest Edward Delaney and Sarah Arminta Wicker. She was also preceded in death by four siblings – Manley and Joe Delaney, Cora Delaney Thrasher, Ova Delaney Blanton; and one son-in-law Billy James Phillips.

Mrs. Curtis was a graduate of Shiloh High School where she met her husband, Dan. They were active in the Shiloh community and West Shiloh Baptist Church for a number of years. They were a part of a committee that started the Annual Shiloh High School Reunion that still meets annually. They moved to Savannah in 1954 and were very active in the First Baptist Church. Mr. Curtis was employed by Brown Shoe Company.

After Mr. Curtis’ death and the wishes of her family to move closer, Mrs. Curtis, at age 83, moved from Hardin County for the first time in her life to a condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She became active there in the First Baptist Church and other community activities. In 2007, due to health reasons, she moved to Live Oak Assisted Living where she lived for ten years before moving to Hiawassee, Georgia in February 2017.

Mrs. Curtis was an inspiration to her family, friends and neighbors. She was known in the community lovingly as Mama Curtis. She was a multi-talented homemaker and avid sports fan; she was also interested in local, state and national politics. She was a self-taught Bible Scholar and was a reader of her bible until her death.

She is survived by two daughters – Sue Curtis Phillips of Orange Beach, Alabama and Jane Curtis Carter (Conley) of Hiawassee, Georgia – four grandchildren, Joni Blalock, Gina Campisi, Leigh Ann Fisher (Jon) and Curtis Carter.

Seven great grandchildren – Brittany Blalock, Lindsay Blalock, Bernard Nesbitt, Alex Campisi, Joe Campisi, Frankie Campisi, and Marc Fisher.

One great-great grandson, Royce Jameson Matthews and a number of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation the the First Baptist Church, Savannah Tennessee. Banister Funeral Home of Hiawassee, Georgia and Shackelford Funeral Home of Savannah, Tennessee in charge of arrangements.