Martha Ann Redden

Martha Ann Craver Redden, 85, of Davidson County, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

A funeral service celebrating Martha’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Welcome, with the Rev. Dr. Chris Griggs officiating. A private burial will follow at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Road.

Born in the Arcadia community of Davidson County on April 14, 1940, Martha was the first child of the late Lonnie “June” Mercy Craver and Mary Snider Craver. Her childhood on the family farm with her three brothers and two sisters shaped the rest of her life where the rhythm and substance of her life centered around family, church and friendships. As the oldest child of many siblings, she inherently took on a mother’s role of unconditional love, care and concern for others that remained with her throughout life’s joys and sorrows until her final days.

With a natural disposition to build up others and make them feel at ease, Martha truly never met a stranger. She enjoyed her years at North Davidson High School, where she graduated in 1958. Her “50’s girlfriends” (Henrietta, Libby, Ann, Yvonne, Patsy, Paige, Martha and Eleanor) were life-long friends that she cherished immensely.

She loved children and had a gift for teaching them. Graduating from Appalachian State University in 1962, Martha taught first and second grade in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools for 34 years. It was there that she developed additional very special life-long friendships with fellow teachers, Carol Ball and Lou Young.

From first grade through the rest of her life she loved Charles Robert Redden. They wed in 1963 and welcomed their son, Michael Charles Redden, in 1969.

She was a beautiful person, inside and out. She could bring out the beauty in her surroundings such as her home and yard, but more importantly in the people around her. She had a remarkable ability to encourage and to listen.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Larry Craver.

Martha is survived by her son, Michael Redden (Deborah); her grandchildren, Hannah Redden Goss (Kyle), Rachel Redden and Ethan Redden; and one very special great-granddaughter, Emery Ann Goss, born in her 85th year. She is also survived by her beloved brothers, sisters, and sister-in-law, Jim Craver (Billie), Delaine Craver, Sandra Carter, Judy Everhart (Rick) and Richard Craver (Elaine) as well as a host of nieces and nephews she loved dearly along with their children and grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214, or to First Baptist Church of Welcome, 404 Welcome-Arcadia Road, Lexington, NC 27295.

Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel, is honored to be serving the Redden family.