Martha Jean "Marty" Brenneman

Martha Jean “Marty” Sanders Brenneman, 97, of Morganton passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021.  Born in Cumberland County, PA on January 27, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Frank H. Sanders, Sr. and Sadie Huffman Sanders. 

Marty was a member of the Morganton First Presbyterian Church where she received the Woman of the Church's highest honor of an Honorary Life Membership in recognition of her life service to the church and community.  Her greatest passion was the church’s music program and singing in the choir. She also was a teacher and co-director of the vacation bible school.

Marty was also active in the community as a kindergarten teacher at the Collect Street Recreation Center, a cub scout den mother, a teacher's assistant in the Burke County Public Schools, President of the Schubert Music Club, Director of the Foster Grandparent Program at Western Carolina Center, and representative to the 1971 White House Conference on Aging.

She was a member of the Public Relations Committee of the State Federation of Music Clubs, The P.E.O. Sisterhood, and the Covenant Center Guild at Western Carolina Center.

Marty was accommodating, caring, gentle, thoughtful, and unflappable.  She was one who put the church first in her life, the family second and the house third.  Her ministry did not stop with the telephone calls to church members.  There were visits, cards, sharing roses from the garden, or goodies from the kitchen. The family is very grateful to the staff of Grace Ridge Retirement Community and thank them for their compassion and professional care.

Marty is survived by her sons, Dwight S. “Sandy” Brenneman (Kathy) of Shelby, NC, Norman L. Brenneman (Cindy) of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, and Curtis A. Brenneman of Morganton; grandchildren, Kristin Brenneman Eno (Sean) of Brooklyn, NY, Claire Brenneman Ruth (Andrew) of Clayton, NC, Amy Brenneman Wood (Chris) of Leland, NC, and Alan D. Brenneman (Ashley) of Burlington, NC; great-grandchildren; Marion Magnolia Eno, Willa Evelyn Eno, Andrew David Ruth, and Arya Charlotte Wood; nieces, Nancy L. Sanders Parsons of San Rafael, CA and Victoria Sanders Neff of Mechanicsburg, PA;  nephews, Larry H. Sanders of Williamsport, PA, Rev. Dr. Frank H. Sanders, III and  Frederick L. Sanders both of Reading, PA, and William R. Sanders of Allentown, PA; 9 great nieces and nephews and 2 great-great nieces.

In addition to her parents, Marty was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Dwight L. Brenneman; four brothers and a sister.

Services for Marty will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church / Christian Music Education Fund for Youth, 100 Silver Creek Road, Morganton, NC 28655 –or- P.E.O. Morganton Chapter W, Educational Scholarships for Local Women, 5330 Hazel St., Valdese, NC 28690.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.