ASHBY, Martha Dean Tomlinson, 84, went to be with her Lord on June 24, 2016. Her devotion to her family and her unwavering belief in God defined her life and underscored all of her relationships. Martha was born to the late Lewis and Luelle Tomlinson on November 5, 1931. Martha attended Longwood College and Smithdeal-Massey Business School. She worked as an office manager in her husband's medical practice for 42 years. She utilized her love of music and her significant musical ability to praise her Lord and lead in worship for most of her life. Martha was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her best friend on August 20, 1952, in Waverly, Va. and they shared almost 64 years of love, faith and friendship. Martha raised four children with patience, discipline and humility. She led all of her children to Christ and encouraged them in their faith through her example of obedience and loving service. Martha is survived by her husband, Charles Sr.; her children, Charles Jr. (Julia) Ashby, Luelle (Jay) Crumpler, Bobbie Murray and Lynn (David) Estep; her grandchildren, Allison (Kevin) Laskowski, Matthew Ashby, Erin (Brian) Amrich, Jessica (Riley) Ewen, Claire Murray, Charlie Murray, Matt Estep and Alex (Amanda) Estep; her great-grandchildren, Theo and Zeke Laskowski and Emerson and Findlay Amrich; and her niece and nephews, Molly, Rob and Paul Tomlinson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her younger brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Mary Stuart Tomlinson; and her granddaughter, Megan Crumpler. A service will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, at J.T. Morriss and Son Funeral Home in Petersburg, Va., with burial to follow at the Waverly Cemetery, Waverly, Va. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 27. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Smyrna Baptist Church, 18971 Carson Rd., Dinwiddie, Va. 23841 or Iron Bridge Baptist Church, 10900 Iron Bridge Rd., Chesterfield, Va. 23831. Condolences may be registered at jtmorriss.com.

Published in the Richmond Times Dispatch on June 26, 2016.