In Loving
Memory

Martha Harris Archer

Aug 18, 1926Jul 04, 2018

Memorial Gathering

Location

Affinity Funeral Service

Date

Sat, July 21, 2018

Time

2 : 00 PM – 4 : 00 PM

Obituary message

ARCHER, MARTHA H. (MARTHA AMELIA SOURS, MARTHA YOUNG, MARTHA HARRIS) 91, passed away Wednesday, July 4, 2018. Martha was a lover of life, a life-long Episcopal, a proud Educator, a passionate raconteur, a true giver, a compassionate and loyal friend and a blessing to everyone she ever met. Her brothers and sisters, family and friends meant everything to her, but most of all, she loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her beloved nieces and nephews who were such an integral part of her life. Martha never met a stranger, and everyone who was blessed to pass her way soon found a kindred spirit, a concerned companion and a devoted friend, and in turn loved her for her effervescent beauty and enduring grace. Her smile, sincerity and personality were magnetic, drawing you in to share in her joy and vibrant spirit. Her sense of history profound, her love of family deep, her care and concern immediate, and her stories contagious, making everyone around her instantly feel as if they had always been part of her immediate family or at the very least a long lost and beloved friend. Martha was a woman of great beauty, strength, compassion, wisdom and grace, and to the very end was actively involved: supporting her children and grandchildren, sharing her keen insight with everyone she met, conveying a deeper understanding and loving support to family members and always seeing the very best in everyone she met. Over her many years, Martha cherished being a mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She loved children, black-eyed susan’s, orchids and nature, collecting (almost anything), sewing, and was especially proud to be a public school teacher. During the Civil Rights movement Martha was one of the first teachers in the city of Richmond to volunteer to teach in a minority school and following retirement, actually substituted into her late seventies. She loved to travel, especially on family visits and to the beach and spoke fondly and often of each, she loved her God, the Episcopal Church, the Moose, the Masonic Order and with her mother was a member of the Eastern Star. She cared deeply for Longwood (where she graduated), UVA, ASU, VCU, American, Forest Creek, the Redskins, Robert Service, Tennyson, Robert Frost and “The Road Not Taken,” tennis, politics and every sport, activity, dance, song, play, writing, book or movie that any of her loved ones were engaged in. Martha will be missed beyond words and is survived by her children, Thomas (and Rebecca) Harris, Cherie Bertozzi and Hope Bellgren; her beloved grandchildren: Amelia, Alexzander and Aaron Bellgren, Bren Bertozzi, Corinne, Ariel and Ian (and Fariha) Harris, Camille (and Dominik) Kosna, Tyler (and Kadie) Charles; great-grandchildren Kayleigh, Vivian, Nicholas and Kimber; her brother Ben Sours; her nieces and nephews, Martha, Carmen, David, Esther, Anne, Beth, Ed, Martha K, Paul, Grey, John, Susan, Mickie, Connie, Ruth Anne, Mary, Bonnie, Scott, Bud and their respective families; Glen, Mary Catherine and “her” special children (Pete, Mark, Skip, Millicent, John, Stuart, Pat, Cheri, Debbie, Linda, Lana, Madison, Jordan and Star) as well as, her devoted friends, Winnie, Dottie, Sarah, Barbara, Carol, Mike, Renee, Mike, Cindy, Ruby, Muriel and Carolyn.
She was preceded in death by sisters, Esther Allen Sours, Mary Francis Kearns, Katherine Moeschler and brothers, Charles Gray Sours, William M. Sours and James Sours and Spouses, John W. Harris, James Young, and Harold G. Archer, Jr.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Memorial Service on Saturday July 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Parkway (near the intersection of Broad Street and Parham Road) Richmond, Virginia and Sunday, August 26th at 2 PM at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 66 North Main Street, Chatham, Virginia 24531. Interment will follow.
The family extends their sincere appreciation to the Doctors and nurses who cared for her and to the medical staff at Johnston Willis Hospital for their efforts and concern. In memory of our beloved mother, memorial contributions may be given to SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN 2900 Rocky Point Drive; Tampa Florida 33607 US 844-739-0849

***Martha was a storyteller, please share your stories and memories***

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