Obituaries

Shirley Martin, aka Tootsie, gained her wings on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Hospice of Rockingham County. The daughter of the late Rufus Repass Cobbs, and the late Rosa Mae Grant Cobbs, she was born on February 12, 1956, in Henry County, VA.

Shirley attended Laurel Park High School. She was employed at Atlas Molded Products in Ridgeway, VA.

On February 17, 2001, Shirley married Johnny Lee Martin.

Shirley had a very expensive taste, which showed through her love of shopping for comforters (bedspreads) with matching curtains. She loved handbags and sunglasses. Her biggest passion was interior decorating. She loved the holidays because it was a time to connect with family over a great home cooked meal that she provided in her home. On any of the days of the week, rain or shine, hot or cold, you could find Shirley outside washing and waxing her car. You never found her riding dirty.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by one sister, Elizabeth Hairston; and six brothers, Rudy Cobbs, Chester Cobbs, Howard Cobbs, Lee (Poncho) Edward Cobbs, James "Bubba" Cobbs, and Lewis Cobbs. Her brother-n-law, Lester Martin, Jr., also preceded her in death.

Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Johnny Martin; two sons, Edward Junior Gravely of Martinsville, VA, and Bishop Jeffrey Lamont Gravely (Toni) of Eden, NC; two stepsons, Kevin Demond Martin (Sandra) and Johnny Lee Martin, Jr. (Yogi), of Martinsville, VA; three sisters, Yolanda Reynolds, Minnie Reynolds, and Saddie Ann Cobbs all of Axton, VA; one brother, Sammy Cobbs (Angie) of Reidsville, NC, five sisters-in-law, Elsie Ann Waller, Violina Martin, Mary Frances Penn (Edward), Cora Martin (Roy), and Gaynell Smith (Julius), all of Martinsville, VA; and two brothers-in-law, Isaiah Martin of Martinsville, VA, and Percy Willie Martin, of Portsmouth, VA; grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Shirley will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 12 noon at the C.R.V. Memorial Chapel at Hairston Funeral Home, 301 Fayette St., Martinsville, VA with Bishop Jeffrey Gravely, Eulogist. Interment will follow at the Cobbs Family Cemetery, 1140 Jones Ridge Rd., Axton, VA.

A public viewing will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Hairston Funeral Home between the hours of 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The family will receive friends during this time. Live streaming of the funeral service will be available at Hairston Funeral Home live via Facebook.

Courteous, efficient and dependable services provided by Hairston Funeral Home.