Martha went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 6, 2022. She was born in 1947 in Guilford County, North Carolina and was adopted by the Reverend William Arnold Pate and Martha Powell Pate, minister of the Third Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. This is where Martha spent her childhood. She graduated from Douglas Southhall Freeman High School and attended Montreat-Anderson College where she met her soul mate, Joseph Edward Teters. They went on to complete their bachelor’s degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University and their master’s degrees at Virginia Tech. Martha and Ed married in November of 1969, then settled in Montreat in 1974. Martha touched many lives as a guidance counselor at Charles D. Owen High School from 1975 to 2000.
As a young child, Martha surrendered her life to the Lord and her relationship with Jesus was evident to all who knew her. A selfless woman, Martha invested her energy and resources into others. She always found the time to counsel and to encourage those around her. Her beautiful smile, listening ears, and fun-loving spirit were a magnet that drew people to her. She had an amazing sense of humor. Martha had many interests. She knew every plant and flower by name. Martha was an avid reader and she especially enjoyed researching family history. This true Southern lady was a Civil War buff who respected and honored traditions. Martha dearly loved the old hymns of the faith and found much joy in singing them. She was a collector, who loved shopping, but her main goal was always to find something special for someone else. Her thoughtfulness and generosity knew no bounds. She traveled many places, but her favorite destination was her old home place, built in 1872, located in Fair Bluff, North Carolina.
Martha’s priorities were her family and friends. She treasured time spent with them. She made every holiday and birthday memorable and special. Her love for each and every holiday was contagious. Martha adored her husband and children. Once grandchildren came into her life, her main purpose was to create special memories with them.
Martha is preceded in death by her parents and “baby” sister Emily Powell, who died in December 2019. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband of 52 years, Ed Teters; children William Teters (Kellie) and Elizabeth Riddle (Jeremy); grandchildren Madelyn and Abigail Teters; Celeste, Cade and Elise Riddle.
Others left to hold Martha close in their hearts are Martha’s brother, Edwin Pate; brother in-law, Tony Powell; nieces and nephews John Edwin Pate, Hannah Morris (David), Nathan Powell (Keri), Jessie Mullins (Mark); biological brother Michael Stallings; friends who became family, the Hargetts; the Crums; the Caldwells, who knew her as their “Aunt Martha”; and many treasured friends.
Martha’s home-going celebration will be held on March 26 at 2 p.m. in the Graham Chapel of Christ Community Church, Montreat, NC.
The service will be live-streamed at cccmontreat.org.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Children’s Home Society, 604 Meadow Street Greensboro, NC 27405, Black Mountain Home, 80 Lake Eden Road Black Mountain, NC 28711 or Christ Community Church, 396 Geneva Place, Montreat, NC 28757.