If you have only been here in the past three years, you may not have known my Martha. If you have been, as so many of our guests, a long-term visitor to Riverview, you would have known my pretty, little brown eyed girl. You can probably close your eyes and see her walking from dining room to dining room with a piece of sausage in her hand chatting with everyone.

I regret to inform everyone that Martha fought her cancer battle hard, but finally went to be with the Lord on March 26th, 2020. She has run her race well, and now is in the arms of Jesus. I figured that the best way to get my sad news out was to send it out in a blog to all of our guests. While Martha was still lucid, she told me that she only had two regrets. She regretted not getting to see her grandchildren grow up, and she regretted not teaching me how to look after myself. When she asked me to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine, I asked her which one of these to white things in the utility room was the washer and which was the dryer.

She made me promise not to let her hurt, and I was able to keep that promise. Hospice accessed her chemo port and kept a continuous flow of high-powered pain killer going through it. All three of our adult children, Holly, Cadie, and Cader IV were by her side as well as I was. I could not have made it without them. They were real troopers and took turns on the night shift. We were all holding or touching her when she took her last breath

I am adding a copy of her obituary to this blog since I figured that it was the best way to get the word out to everyone rather than people hearing it this coming hunting season. I loved her with all of my body, mind and soul. Please know before reading this obit that I am not soliciting funds to the two places mentioned. Rather, I wanted to get this sad news out to everyone as soon as I could see through the tears to write it. I will say that while my heart is shattered, I am at peace with God, and it is well with my soul. Future blogs will be about much more pleasant subjects!

Obituary:

Martha Holland Cox died peacefully at home on March 26, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 3, 1948 in Hawkinsville, GA to Frank and Eva Holland. When she was around two years old, they moved to Perry where she grew up and went to school. She was very active in powder puff football and was a majorette in high school. Upon graduation, she went to the University of Georgia where she was a member of the Phi Mu sorority and majored in education. There, she also met the love of her life, Cader B. Cox, III. They married after she graduated, and she taught school in Bethlehem, Georgia before moving to Camilla with Cader and taking a job teaching at Westwood Schools. She retired from teaching to become the executive assistant to Cader at Riverview Plantation.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Eva Holland. She is survived by her beloved husband, Cader, her children Holly (and husband Cliff), Cadie (and husband Jay), and Cader IV (and wife Heather) and seven grandchildren: Holden and Harrison Cooper, Nate, Keaton, and Eva Kirbo, and Caroline and C.B. Cox. She is also survived by her brother Frank Holland (and wife Sally) and sister Marilyn Harris (and husband Clark).

She was a much-loved member of her family, church, and community and will be greatly missed. She will be buried at a private graveside service, and a celebration of life will be planned later. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hopeful Baptist Church Memorial Trust Fund, 2740 River Road, Camilla, GA 31730 or Integrity Cares (hospice), 303 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, GA 39817.