Martha Deborah (Davis) Rhea

Martha Deborah Davis Rhea, resident of New Orleans, Louisiana and wife of the late William A. Rhea,  Jr., departed this life Friday afternoon, July 6, 2018 at her residence.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Rhea were conducted at 10 A.M. Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Somerville. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. There was a short gathering at the church in Davis Hall following the graveside service. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - Main Chapel of Somerville.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, William A. Rhea, Jr., as well as her parents, Rev. Humphrey W. and Mary Parsons Davis and her sister, Sara Davis Davis.  She is survived by her children, William Humphrey Rhea (Cathy) of Chester, VA and Martha Deborah Rhea Slattery (Jerry) of New Orleans; her much-loved grandchildren: Catherine (Brad Smith), Andrew (Emerald), and Patrick Rhea and Thomas, Matthew, and Anna Slattery; and several generations of nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all.

Martha was born in Murray, Kentucky and grew up in Kentucky and Tennessee. She graduated from Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee and was a former resident of Somerville, where she was a schoolteacher and a reporter for the Fayette Falcon. Until recently, she lived in Metairie, Louisiana and was an active member of Munholland United Methodist Church.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Catherine Elisabeth Rhea, Thomas Eamon Slattery, William Andrew Rhea, Matthew Rhea Slattery, Patrick Scott Rhea and Anna Elizabeth McAleer Slattery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.