Martha Adair

Martha Jane Vanture Adair departed this life from her home on Saturday, July 2nd, 2005. Born December 26th, 1937, she was the daughter of Minnie Lee Howell Vanture and Victor Charles Vanture. She graduated from Suffolk High School in 1956 and from the Medical College of Virginia, School of Nursing with a Bachelor's Degree in July 1960. In July, 1959, she married Captain Joe Milton Adair of Raven, Virginia who was a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. They moved to Richlands, Virginia in September 1960, where she resided the rest of her life. She was a member of the Cedar Bluff United Methodist Church joining in 1960 and was active in the United Methodist Church on the local, district and conference levels. She assumed various leadership roles in the life of the Cedar Bluff United Methodist Church and in the last several years of her life, served as church orgainist and adult Sunday School teacher. She was a charter member of the Richlands Citizens for the Arts, Inc. and an avid supporter of the Southwest Virginia Community College Festival of the Arts. She received the Citizenship Award in recognition of human service given by the Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce in 1992. Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Dr. Joe M. Adair; two daughters, Elizabeth Adair Townsend and husband, the Reverend Bowman Townsend of Austin, Texas and Anne Adair Smith and husband, Jeffrey Craig Smith of Charlottesville, Virginia. Also surviving are her sister, Carolyn Vanture Culpepper and husband, Benjamin Sullie Culpepper of Salisbury, Maryland. Mrs. Adair is also survived by five grandchildren, Jane Adair and Charles Bowman Townsend of Austin, Texas, James Evan, Joseph Avery, and John Graham Smith of Charlottesville, Virginia. A niece, Carol Jane Mays and nephews, Benjamin Sullie Culpepper, Jr., Victor Charles Culpepper, and Franklin Lee Culpepper also survive. A service of celebration will be held at the Cedar Bluff United Methodist Church, Old Kentucky Turnpike on Thursday, July 7th, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at this time. In lieu of flowers, if you so desire, you may contribute to the Southwest Virginia Community College Scholarship Program in Nursing at Box SVCC Richlands, Virginia 24641.

Martha Adair

December 26, 1937 - July 2, 2005