Martha M. Sturkie
Martha Markus Sturkie, age 91, passed away peacefully on August 17, surrounded by her family. Martha was born in Lawrenceburg, TN to Fred Mino Markus and Louise Green Markus. She told countless stories and enjoyed fond memories of growing up with eight beloved siblings on a working farm in rural Tennessee. As she walked to a one-room schoolhouse, caught crawdads in Long Branch creek, weeded gardens, and tended ginseng patches, Martha developed a lifelong love of nature, all God’s creatures, plants, trees, birds, and, yes, rocks, too.
After high school, she hopped a bus to Nashville, TN and worked her own way through nursing school. There, she met her future husband Ray Sturkie, a physician, on an elevator in Nashville General Hospital. Military life took them to Alabama before they settled in Winston-Salem for her remaining 64 years of life. She soon learned to play a mean game of golf, joined Lawndale Garden Club, served in the Medical Auxiliary, and treasured her birthday club friends. In 1984, she launched a 25-year career as a Realtor, building longstanding relationships with many of her clients and colleagues. Nothing delighted her more than time with her children and grandchildren. Her life has been marked by kindness, a quiet faith, great compassion for all, and a remarkable chocolate pie.
Martha was pre-deceased by her husband of 49 years, Ray Sturkie, and her late-life husband Odell Beroth. She is survived by her three children: Claire Billingsley (Andy) of Chapel Hill, NC, Hank Sturkie (Denise) of Mouth of Wilson, VA, and Susan Harrison (Randy) of Raleigh, NC. She leaves seven precious grandchildren Alexander Daly (Alex), Andrew Billingsley, Hunter Sturkie (Jordan), Stewart Sturkie (Emily), Christie Ray Harrison, Michael Harrison (Elizabeth), and Sarah Harrison, as well as the blessing of three great-grandchildren. The family is exceedingly grateful to the staff of Arbor Acres and the gracious caregivers at LiveWell Wessex.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. A livestream will be available through the church website: Centenary-ws.org. The family will receive visitors in the church Community Room immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Reynolda Gardens, 100 Reynolda Village Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.