Martha Virginia Bowman Wilson

Martha Virginia Bowman Wilson, age 94, passed away on Monday, February 7, 2022, in her hometown of Jefferson City, TN.  She was a doting wife, mother, grandmother, mentor, teacher, and friend. She was born in Memphis, TN to J.C. and Bess Bowman.  After losing both of her parents at the age of 10, Martha and her brother, Jim, moved to Amory, MS, where they were raised by their Aunt Nan. Martha attended college at the University of Mississippi, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. It was at Ole Miss where she met Bobby at a Sadie Hawkins dance. She and Bobby were married after graduation in 1950, and she started teaching in the public schools of Canton and Greenwood, MS. They then moved to Jefferson City, TN in 1964 to begin a 26-year tenure at Carson-Newman College.  It was here that she taught in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department and served as department coordinator for 8 years.  Her dedication to teaching led to her receiving the Distinguished Professor Award in 1978 and Professor Emeritus upon retirement in 1991. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Jefferson City and served on various committees as well as offices of the Agape Sunday School Class. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, J.C. and Bess Bowman, her brother, Jim Bowman, close cousin, Paul Moore, and her husband of 57 years and best friend, Robert “Bobby” A. Wilson.  She is survived by her son, Rob Wilson, granddaughters, Sarah (Trey) Coyle, Hannah (JT) McConnell, and Leah (Casey) Henshaw, and great-grandchildren, Adeline and Hunter Coyle, and Hayes McConnell. Martha will lie in state on Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm at Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN, followed by a graveside service officiated by Dr. Wade Bibb at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Jefferson City, TN.  In lieu of flowers, Martha has asked that donations be made to Carson-Newman Baseball. Donations can be mailed to: Matt Pope, Athletic Director, Carson-Newman University, 2130 Branner Ave. Jefferson City, TN 37760