Funeral service for Martha Ann Jordan Phillips Penn, 81, will be Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church with Bro. Charles Shaddix and Bro. Clayton Speed officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Hartselle City Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Hartselle, AL.
Mrs. Penn died on Monday, May 15, 2017 at River City Center. She was born March 30, 1936, in Hattiesburg, MS to W. T. Jordan, Sr. and Anabel Short Jordan. She graduated from Hattiesburg High in 1953. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi on a voice scholarship in the Frank Earl Marsh music department. She also attended the University of Mississippi at Oxford.
A member of the Adult choir more than 20 years, Mrs. Penn was a soloist for many weddings and civic events. At the request of individual families, she brought words of comfort in song at area funerals. She also directed a church children’s choir for several years and was a Sunday School teacher for three years.
Mrs. Penn was employed by The Decatur Daily as a daily columnist writing “Martha Ann’s Valley” between 1979-1983. She was later social news editor of the Hartselle newspaper. Mrs. Penn was later employed by medical doctors in Athens and Decatur. After the death of her second husband, Hugh F. Penn, Mrs. Penn was Resident Director for Freshman Girls at Mississippi College, a four year Co-ed Baptist School located in Clinton MS.
Mrs. Penn was preceded in death by her parents: a sister, Miriam Jordan O’Brien of LA, three brothers, Bill Jordan of Hattiesburg, MS, United Methodist Minister and U.S. Navy Chaplin (retired) Richard E. Jordan of Montgomery, AL and Kendall T. Jordan of Mobile, AL.
Survivors include:
Three Sons:
Fred Phillips, Jr. (Kay), Star, MS
Franklin Robert Phillips, Hartselle, AL
Forrest Todd Phillips (Amy), Hartselle, AL
One Daughter:
Vicki Phillips Hyde (Roger), Decatur, AL
Eleven Grandchildren:
Jordan Secore,
Will Hyde,
Clay Hyde,
Drew Hyde,
Tanner Phillips,
Stella Grace Phillips,
Tyler Phillips,
Haley Phillips,
Morgan Phillips,
Macelyn Donaldson and
Bailey Hall
Special Family Friend:
Billy J. Wiley
Mrs. Penn accepted Christ as her Saviour as a teenage, however, she often said, “I didn’t fully understand Him as my Lord until an adult– it came to me that life wasn’t a rehearsal, and this was the only opportunity to make Him the supreme leader of my life. I gave the Lord Jesus all of my being–and although it didn’t make my road without pitfalls, He gave me strength to overcome obstacles and it built my faith. Everyday I read Psalms 139 and Psalms 23. How glorious it is to look forward to eternity. Until then, I’ll delight in God’s Word, my children and grandchildren and many lovely friends.”
In lieu of flowers: family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund.
Peck Funeral Home
