Frances Powell Martin, age 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 5th, 2025, at Karolwood Gardens assisted living in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Frances was born on March 10 th , 1933 in Sherman, Okeechobee County, Florida; the second of three children born to John Wesley Powell Sr. and Bettie Lee Waring Powell.  She lived most of her youth in Panama City, Florida, graduating from Bay High School, and lived there until after her marriage to Roland Martin in 1953. They lived in Birmingham, Alabama and Durham, North Carolina while Roland completed his undergraduate and master's degrees. They moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1960, where Frances lived until 1988, when she moved to Virginia to be near her children.

Frances retired in 2004 from Moran Towing in Norfolk, VA.  She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Portsmouth and was active for many years in their Friendship Circle.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her ex-husband Roland T. Martin, Jr., her older brother John Wesley Powell, Jr., and her younger sister, Jane Powell Tweedy.  She is survived by her children; Roland "Raleigh" Martin (Shirley) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Keith Martin (Manuela) of The Netherlands, and Kristina Martin Daugherty (Rick) of Kathleen, Georgia.

She enjoyed spending time with her seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, who knew her as "Namama". Her grandson, Niels Martin, recalls enjoying talks with her about her parents and other ancestors. He said that "Though she was not always the easiest person and didn't hesitate to express her thoughts, she was also a person with a sense of humor and someone with whom you could have a good talk. It's a shame that we had to say goodbye to her, but how great it is she can now praise her Creator forever".

Frances was a life-long follower of Jesus, and her family takes comfort in knowing that she is now worshiping Him in Heaven, free from infirmity and suffering. "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

Frances will be buried at Holly Lawn Cemetery in Suffolk, VA. There will not be an open funeral service. A memorial service may be scheduled this summer, when family from the Netherlands is able to travel.

The family would like to thank Frances' caregiver, Ashley Hair, for her many months of kind service and companionship.