Martha Ann (Boyle) Trapp, 93, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2022, after a short illness. A resident of Albertville AL since 2013, she had previously lived for many years in Duck Hill MS.
Martha Ann was born on March 7, 1929, to James Perkins Boyle and Martha Essie (Denley) Boyle in Yalobusha County MS. She grew up in a rural area near Coffeeville MS and Grenada MS. She attended Mississippi University for Women (called “the W”) and graduated in 1951 with a degree in English. She married Turner J. Trapp on August 4, 1951. They had four children: Turner Japhet, Jr. (TJ), David Mark, Ellen Ann, and Thomas Miles (who died in infancy).
Turner joined the Army shortly after their marriage, and with Martha Ann’s support attained the rank of Colonel. During Turner’s 30-year military career the family moved 18 times, including spending several years in Italy. Martha Ann understood that raising a family during frequent changes of scenery required an anchor of consistency. She put her own career aspirations aside and chose to be that anchor for her family. In each new location she found something good about the place; she knew she couldn’t change the circumstances, but could change how she felt about those circumstances. After Turner’s retirement from the military in 1981, the couple built a home in rural Duck Hill MS, near Grenada, where they lived for over 30 years.
A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, Martha Ann was active in community organizations and church groups. She was a long-time member of the Lion’s Club and DAR. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and followed her extended family’s activities with great interest. She was known for her needlework, oil paintings, desserts, genealogy studies, and knowledge of current affairs.
In addition to her husband Turner and baby Tommy, Martha Ann was preceded in death by her parents and older brother James Perkins Boyle, Jr. She is survived by her children TJ Trapp (Diana Webb) of The Villages FL, Mark Trapp (Cathy Trapp) of Mulvane KS, and daughter Dr. Ellen Trapp (Stephen Frank) of Albertville AL; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Memorial contributions in Martha Ann’s name may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Albertville AL.
Services in Grenada MS will be on Tuesday, December 6, at Mckibben and Guinn Funeral Home at 1 p.m. with burial at the Duck Hill Cemetery immediately following. Visitation will be 11 until 1 before the service. A memorial service will be held in Albertville AL on Thursday, December 8, at The First Methodist Church in Albertville at 1 p.m. with visitation will be 12 until 1 before the service at the church.
