Martha Helen Slayton

Mrs. Martha Helen Slayton, 83, of Union City died Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Brown Chapel AME Church. Interment will follow in East View Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at the church.

Martha Helen Barton was born November 3, 1939, to Bell Barton, Sr. and Rusie McGee in Booneville, MS.

She was united in marriage to Willie L. Slayton, Sr. on October 30, 1955 in Corinth, MS. They later moved to Rives, TN where Willie began farming and where they started their family.

Martha spent the majority of her life as a homemaker and housekeeper. She loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed reading the Bible, gardening, and cooking. She was an avid sports fan who enjoyed watching basketball and baseball. She enjoyed her soap operas as well. She was known by her grandchildren as “Buddy”, “Grand Helen”, and Granny Mama”.

Martha was an active member of Mt. Zion C.M.E Church where she served on the Steward Board, was a choir member, and helped on the serving committee up until her health failed.

She was preceded in death by her spouse Willie L. Slayton, Sr., parents Bell & Rusie Barton, brothers Stanley and Bell Barton, Jr., sisters Ruby Avery and Betty Jean Avery Beavers, sons Bobby and Jerry Slayton , and grandchildren Deandria Slayton and Trey Maddox.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children Willie Slayton, Shirley Carter, and Doris Johnson Samuels (Aire), Joe (Bessie) Cawthon who the family helped raise, a brother, Bobby (Anita) Barton; daughters in law: Laquita Slayton, Juanita Slayton and Deborah Slayton; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Rawls Funeral Home - Union City 731-885-8110