MARTHA RANN

Lake Cities United Methodist Church Bookkeeper

Martha was born in Decatur, Texas on October 3rd, 1955 to Charlie and Sadie Lee Rann. She has three brothers, Chuck and Davis are older and Bobby is younger.

Martha’s mother taught piano, sang in operas and the Denton Community Theater, taught music in several Wise County schools. Chuck and Davis followed in her musical steps, but Martha followed more in her Daddy's ways. He was a new and used furniture salesman, more used than new....actually he was a junk dealer. Martha thinks that's where she got her habit of seeing something in good shape by the dumpster and her first thought being "somebody could use this"!! She has gotten better about not picking up all the things she sees, because they usually just stay in her house.

Martha attended all 12 years at Decatur ISD and graduated in 1974. They told her they would name a school after her if she didn't fail any grades, so now there is Rann Elementary in Decatur.....ok so it was really named after her aunt and uncle, but hey, it's still in the family.

Martha started working in the nursery at the church in Decatur while in high school (all those kids have kids...and grandkids now). She started keeping the nursery in Lake Dallas in 1991 when her sister in law was the choir director and just needed someone for handbell practice. Then she was asked to take over Wednesday evening and eventually Sunday mornings. She just got to the point that if there was something going on, she showed up. And she has been showing up here ever since!!!

Martha has a certificate in Office Occupations from Cooke County College and earned (but never got) a certificate in business from Brookhaven College and almost has an Associate’s degree from NCTC.

Martha’s son, Jeremy Charles Rann, was born May 3rd 1996 and passed away on April 2nd 1997. As my brother said, Jeremy did more in his 11 months than some people do in a lifetime. Kids who were around at the time said they look at disabled people differently having known Jeremy.

Now Martha’s "children" are the 4-legged variety, except for all her "kids" at church.