Wanda Faye Lawler Martin, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and faithful servant of God, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on September 24, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer.
Born on June 26, 1943, in Franklin County, Alabama, Wanda was the fourth child of the late Virginia and Wildey Lawler. Raised with deep roots and strong family values, she shone brightly from an early age. During her time at Russellville High School, she excelled as a member of the Glee Club and took center stage in high school dramatic productions, notably starring as “JuJu the Cannibal Queen.” Music remained a lifelong joy for Wanda—especially gospel hymns, holiday songs, and the music of Elvis Presley, whom she was thrilled to meet in the 1970s.
In 1962, Wanda married the love of her life, Paul Martin. Together, they moved to the Auburn University campus, where Wanda worked as a hairdresser to help support their new life together, forever cementing her lifelong love for the Auburn Tigers. Their journey led them through North Alabama as their family grew, eventually settling in Memphis, Tennessee, where they raised their three children. Wanda’s entrepreneurial spirit and heart for community shone throughout her career; she earned her realtor license working for Dan Stewart, later served as a mortgage lender for Delta Trust, and became an active Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce after moving to Collierville.
Above all, Wanda’s life was defined by her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and her boundless love for her family. One of the highlights of her spiritual journey was serving as a missionary with People Sharing Jesus, sharing the hope of the gospel with underserved communities across Texas and Tennessee. Wanda was a prayer warrior in the truest sense, constantly lifting up every need with faith and filling every quiet moment with praise. All who knew her will forever remember her generous soul and the depth of her love.
Wanda was a fiercely devoted mother who served as room mother for all of her children’s teachers over the years. She took immense pride in her family, traveling coast to coast to celebrate every graduation, wedding, and milestone for her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She cherished traveling with Paul and her family, finding God’s beauty in the ocean, mountains, and lakes—with favorite memories made in Maine, Banff, the Colorado Rockies, California, Italy, and the beaches of the Florida panhandle. Her home was a place of warm welcome, and her legendary, immense spreads at holiday meals served as tangible evidence of her overflowing love for everyone around her table.
Wanda was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Virginia and Wildey Lawler; her brother, Glen Lawler; her sisters, Joyce West and Jeanette Cooper; and her loved in-laws, Leatrice Horton, Don West, Mitchell Cooper, and Len Mossor.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years, Paul Martin; Her three loving children and their spouses: Ginger Ellithorpe (John), Tara Hall (Louis), and Greg Martin (Rachel); her eight cherished grandchildren: Chelsea Ellithorpe, Ashley Martin, Martin Hall, Emily Cobb (Walt), Ailey Hall, Conrad Martin, Eliza Simpler (Hunter), and Kailey Ellithorpe; and five precious great-grandchildren: Haisley, Jeremiah, and Edenia Cobb, and Ellie and Alaina Simpler. Patsy Mossor, loving sister and best friend who shared so many precious times together and good friend Phillip Saruk who shared her love for cooking and special foods. She also leaves behind a rich legacy of love through many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.
