Martha Miles

Miles, Martha Ellen Love Kennedy

Miles, Martha Ellen Love Kennedy passed away February 21, 2014, after a brief illness. She was born October 17, 1932, in the Bradford area of Pinson, Ala. Mrs. Miles was predeceased by her parents Lloyd Wilburn Love, Sr. and Winnie Beatrice Moore Love, her beloved brothers and sister, Billy, Perry, and Jerry Love and Shelby Jean Love Snow, and her late husband William F. Miles. She was married 38 years to her devoted husband and love of her life, Robert Lee Kennedy, Jr., who died in 1990. They were life partners, always together and enjoying life together. They were founding members of Center Crest Baptist Church in Center Point,. Ala., where they were active in the music ministry, and later, Center Point Baptist Church and Riverside Baptist Church, Riverside, Ala. In addition to music and song, they enjoyed home projects, their lovely gardens and the time spent with friends and family at their vacation home on Logan Martin Lake in Riverside.

Mrs. Miles was survived by her children and their spouses, Allan Lee Kennedy (Elaine) and Karen Jean Kennedy Stridiron (Al), her grandchildren, Stanley Kennedy, Jason Stridiron (Carolina), Dustin Stridiron and Laura Stridiron Stadter. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law, James Love (Karen), Lloyd W. Love, Jr. (Edna), Donald Love (Vivian), Anita Ratliff Love, Sylvia Higginbotham Love Hill (Charles), Helen Kennedy Pennington, and brother-in-law, Chester Kennedy (Alma), and numerous nieces and nephews who all remained very special to "Aunt Mot." She was devoted to her family and loved nothing more than holidays spent with a large family group.

For many years, Martha served as the church secretary for Center Crest Baptist Church and was active in the Alabama Association of Baptist Secretaries, among whom she made lifelong friends. She also assisted her husband, Robert, at the Kennedy Agency Insurance Company where she was the office manager and a licensed agent. Mother (Mom) loved to stay busy. She was a wonderful homemaker, talented cook and seamstress. She enjoyed all manner of home projects including sewing, painting, wallpapering, freezing, canning and gardening, and wasn't shy about enlisting the aid of her family in her projects. However, she was always ready to assist her daughter and daughter-in-law in theirs.

Martha leaves behind many cherished friends both in the Riverside/Pell City area and in Birmingham. In recent years, she resided at Danberry Retirement Community in Inverness, where she had many friends and enjoyed numerous activities, especially the choral group which she helped coordinate. She was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, Ala., and remained active there as long as possible. Martha will be missed by many. Her funeral service will be held Monday, Feb 24, 2014, at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Trussville, Ala., at 2:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 12:30 p.m., followed by a brief graveside service at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery, Pinson, Ala.