Martha Inez Eslick Faulkner, age 89, went home to be with the Lord on November 3, 2026. A service to honor her life will be held at 11:00 AM at Higgins Funeral Home on Friday, November 6, 2026, with Bro. Steve Miller officiating. Visitation with the family will be before the service at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Booneville Cemetery, where she will be laid beside her loving husband of 46 years, Frank “Ray” Faulkner.
Martha, a lifelong resident of Lincoln County, was born July 17, 1937, to the late John Thomas and Brunie Burns Eslick. Along with her husband and parents, Martha was preceded in death by her brothers John B. and Frank Eslick and sister Frances Phelps; as well as her son-in-law Paul McMillan and daughter-in-law Maria Beddingfield Faulkner.
She is survived by her children Dennis Faulkner of Fayetteville and Denise McMillan of Chattanooga TN; grandchildren Brice McMillan of Chattanooga, Adam (Shanna) Faulkner of Huntsville, Crystal Faulkner (fiancé Lathan) of Fayetteville; and great-grandson Silas Faulkner; Martha is also survived by her sister Shirley Creson of Fayetteville, and several nieces and nephews. Martha also leaves special friends who were loyally by her side to the end.
Martha was a faithful member of the Church of Christ; early years at Liberty, then Northside, and lastly West Fayetteville. As age and dementia took a toll on her, she still maintained a strong desire to be with her church family and worship the Lord. She was happy to ride the church bus from Covenant Manor where she enjoyed a wonderful quality of life the last 3 1/2 years.
Martha worked for many years at Serbin Manufacturing. She loved the friendships with her Serbin buddies and became an excellent seamstress. Later she worked for The Flower House Needle Shop and Hooked on Quilting where she continued her love of being with people and fiber arts. She also enjoyed working as a caregiver for various families and being a Foster Grandparent at South Lincoln and Flintville Elementary Schools. She was a member of Central High School Class of 1955 and enjoyed her classmates’ gatherings with a special love for the Molino bunch.
She kept her sense of humor to the end; saying she was “fine as a fiddle with all the strings pulled tight.” She also often said she woke up every day with joy in her heart. Martha loved being with her family and was so grateful she lived long enough to meet and love her great-grandson, Silas. She will be greatly missed and remembered always as a strong and loving soul with a positive outlook who made the best of the hand she was dealt. Go rest high on the mountain Grammy; until we see you again on the great day of the Lord!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to West Fayetteville Church of Christ, 24 Boonshill Road, Fayetteville, TN 37334; Covenant Manor, 109 Bright Avenue, Fayetteville, TN 37334; of charity of your choice.
Higgins Funeral Home is privileged to offer comfort, care, and support to the family of Martha Inez Eslick Faulkner.
