Martha L. Birdsong Capps, 86, died Sunday, May 11, 2014, at her residence after a brief illness. She was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on April 24, 1928, the daughter of Robert Lee Birdsong and Ruth Haymes Birdsong. She was baptized as one of Jehovah's witnesses on September 1,1945. She was married in Wichita Falls, Texas on September 1, 1951 to John T. Capps.
Survivors include: two children, Carol Capps Heytens (William) of Marietta and Lee Capps (Missy) of Tupelo; two brothers, Marvin Birdsong of Hot Springs Arkansas, Allan Birdsong (Jean) of Naples Florida, one sister, Jewel Gressett of Odessa, Texas; 11 grandchildren, Amanda Capps Robinson (Adrian), Hans Heytens (Pam), Seth Heytens (Laura), Ethan Heytens, Peter Heytens, Rachel Heytens Felkins (David), Jessica Heytens, Luke Heytens, Sam Heytens, Anna Heytens, Susan Heytens; one great-grand child, Eli Robinson; sister-in-law, Delia Capps Frank (Logan), and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John T. Capps and parents Bob and Ruth Birdsong.
Together, Martha and John attended the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead in New York in 1954. After their graduation, they enjoyed teaching the Bible in Italy as missionaries. One of Martha's favorite things was to share what she had learned from the Bible with people from many different languages and backgrounds. She was always supportive of all that her husband did to help others live by Bible principles.
Martha was also proud of her children and grandchildren. One of her favorite verses was 3rd John verse 4 , "No greater joy do I have than this: that I should hear that my children go on walking in the truth. " Many other friends also called her "Mom" or "Granny". She often told her loved ones:"don't go to bed mad". As a hobby, Martha enjoyed sewing. The Capps' had made their home in the Palmetto community for over 47 years.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 15 at the Verona Cemetery with Brother William Heytens officiating. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charity: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., Attention Treasure's Office, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483.