Martha Ann Overall Wheatley, 81, of Birmingham went home to be with her Lord on May 14,
2009. Martha Ann was born on August 22, 1927, and raised in Shelbyville, TN, and lived 8 years
in Huntsville before moving to Birmingham where she lived most of her life. She was a member
of Canterbury Methodist Church. She was an accomplished journalist writing for the Shelbyville
Times Gazette, Huntsville Times, Birmingham News, and Shades Valley Sun. She attended
Ward Belmont College in Nashville, TN, for a year, but set her education aside to become a
loving wife and mother when her beloved John Fox Wheatley, Jr. came home from World War II
to begin their 62 year marriage and raise a loving family. When the kids were grown, Martha
Ann resumed efforts toward her dream of completing her education and eventually graduated
proudly with honors from UAB in 2005 as a shining example of perseverance and determination.
Martha Ann shared an abundance of love and enjoyed time spent with her family and friends.
She also loved creative writing, reading, artistic painting, and enjoying the beauty of nature and
companionship of her pets. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, John Fox Wheatley, Jr.; parents, Bob and Ann
Overall; brother, Bobby Overall; grandson, James Price, Jr.; and nephew, Daniel Fox Brinkley.
She is survived by her sister, June Locke (Bobby); five children, John Wheatley III (Linda), Jane
Grace (Larry), David Wheatley (Debbie), Sylvia Koch, and Maria Price; thirteen grandchildren
and 4 great grandchildren. Grandchildren are the Wheatley's: John, Mike (Angel), Tommy
(Rochelle), Emory, Shannon (Mary), Audra; also, Tim Grace (Beth), Angela Price, Ashlie Price,
Julie Koch Zurr (Matt), Gary, Melissa, and Mary Catherine Koch. Funeral arrangements are
made through Usrey Funeral Home in Pell City, AL
Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m and the funeral service will be at 3:00 on Sunday, May 17th, at
Canterbury Methodist Church Chapel in Birmingham.
Published in The Birmingham News on 5/16/2009
