Martha Cooper Fowler, 79, of Statesville, N.C., died at Gordon Hospice House on Sunday, January 29, 2023, after a brief illness.

She was born in Statesville June 18, 1943, a daughter of the late John Cooper and Alice White Fowler. She graduated from St. Mary’s School in Raleigh, N.C., and East Carolina College. She taught school for 32 years, first in Lenoir County and later at Northview School in Statesville and Ebenezer School in Iredell County, before retiring in 1999 from the Iredell-Statesville Schools.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

For more than 41 years, she was an active member of the Fort Dobbs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was elected Chapter Recording Secretary 2000-2003; Chapter First Vice Regent 2003-2005; Chapter Regent 2005-2007; Chapter 2nd Vice Regent 2007-2008; Chapter Historian 2012-2013; Registrar, 2013-2014; Chapter Chaplain 2015-2016; Chapter First Vice Regent 2016-2018.

She was the Senior Society President for the Prudence Hall Society of Children of the American Revolution, sponsored by the Fort Dobbs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also an active member of the Colonial Dames of North Carolina for many years.

Martha was a devout Republican, and quick to correct anyone who might have any doubts about the GOP. She was, however, bipartisan in her friendships, counting several Democrats among her closest friends.

All who knew Martha knew her love of the beach, beach music and shagging. She traveled many weekends to North Myrtle Beach, where she enjoyed dancing and visiting with her fellow shaggers from all over the country. She taught a lot of folks how to shag. She could also get all the lyrics right to hundreds of beach music classics, and would often burst into an applicable song at appropriate moments in conversation with friends, much to their amusement.

She may be remembered by many for hosting her “Friday after Christmas” extravaganza for many years.

She was a bargain hunter extraordinaire, and could tell you all about paintings, books, furniture design, clothing, military equipment (and wars!), kitchenware, china, glassware, just about anything collectible, historic or unique. Local thrift stores were her favorite hangout, and she developed a circle of friends among the other bargain hunters in town.

Martha was a talented artist herself and had many of her paintings displayed on the walls of her home. Even so, she always felt she could improve, and took art classes several times.

Her daily mail always included newsletters and requests for help from the animal rights groups and veterans’ groups, and of course, Republican candidates and the GOP. She supported these groups whenever able, with her preference being the veterans’ groups.

Even in her illness, she found people’s personal backgrounds and stories important, especially the health care workers she encountered from all around the globe. Talking with them about their homes, their lives before coming to the United States and their politics kept her interest, even when she was not well.

Having read the majority of the hundreds of books of all subjects (fiction, biography, political, classics) in every room of her home, she routinely recommended books to folks, no matter the situation, that she thought would “enlighten” them.

Family was top priority to her, and she was deeply proud of her son and grandchildren. As a friend, she was one of the best, always there for everyone, ready to help.

She is survived by one son, Britt Perkins (Maria); grandson, Will Perkins; granddaughter, Sarah Perkins; one brother, Clealand Fowler; one sister, Westbrook Fowler; two nephews, John Fowler and Cooper Fowler; and one niece, Sinclair Fowler.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Oakwood Cemetery. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, with the Reverend Jeremy Cannada officiating. At the conclusion of the funeral, a reception for family and friends will be held in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Purple Heart Homes, P.O. Box 5535, Statesville, NC 28687; the animal rescue group of the donor’s choice; Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC, 28625; or First Presbyterian Church, 125 North Meeting Street, Statesville, NC, 28677.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.