Martha A. Smith Briggs (nee Paris), 92, of Storrs, CT passed into eternal rest at Hartford Hospital on Sunday, March 5, 2017 surrounded by the love of her family. Martha was born in Wildwood, GA June 4, 1924 to Joe R. and Amanda (Webster) Paris. Martha worked in New York/New Jersey in the textile industry. She was an accomplished seamstress and was a cook extraordinaire. She was a true student of the Bible and always had a scripture handy. She explored painting during her time at Juniper Hill and left some remarkable canvases. She lived at Juniper Hill Village in Storrs for almost 40 years after spending the rest of her life in Georgia, Tennessee, and New York. She was educated in the public schools of Georgia and continued her push for education in the New York Adult Education Programs. She was partial to many of the hymns in the Protestant tradition and brandished a strong singing voice in her youth. She was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN for many years; she was also a many-year attendee at St. Mark AME Church in East Elmhurst, NY and St. Mark?s Episcopal Church in Storrs, CT until her disablement. Martha was predeceased by her parents, 4 brothers, and 3 sisters. She is survived by her son, Ralph L. Smith, Sr.(Una), of Chattanooga, TN and her daughter, Lena Smith Carter of Middletown, CT; two sisters: A. Juanita Strickland of Chattanooga, TN and Emma L. Burton of Miami, FL. She was grandmother to 13 ;Sarah (David), Sylvia, Ehrika (Blayne), Jessica, David, Jr. (Jennifer), Shawn, Sherman, Ralph, Jr., Alee Martha Ann, and Kelley Dawn; great grandmother to 15 and great-great grandmother to 3. Her extended family includes a host of devoted cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws; other relatives and friends. Donations in her memory may be sent to the American Heart Association, American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005 or
www.heart.org
. Flowers should be sent to Potter Funeral Home. The family will receive friends and relatives Friday, March 10, 2017 from 1:00-2:00 pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, CT 06226. The Celebration of Life Ceremony will start at 2:00 pm at the funeral home, followed by a committal service at Storrs Cemetery.Charitable donations may be made to:American Heart Association5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford CT 06292Web:
https://donatenow.heart.org