Wanda Martin

Wanda Lynn Martin, age 70, died April 5, 2012, at her home in Arkadelphia. Wanda was born March 1, 1942, in Lexington, Mississippi, to J.L. and Pauline Horne. After graduating from Lambert High School, she earned a degree in art from Mississippi State College for Women. While pursuing a Master of Arts degree in art history, she met the man who would become her husband of 46 years, Edwin Martin. They were married in 1965 in Tallahassee, Florida. While Ed served on the faculty at Indian River Junior College, Wanda worked in the Public Relations Department of the college, mainly as a photographer. At IRJC, she performed in the college's theatrical productions. In 1967 the couple moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Ed joined the art faculty at Henderson State University. Wanda volunteered with the Head Start program and was involved with the Arkadelphia Community Theatre. After she became a mother, Wanda focused her community
service efforts in support of her daughters. She volunteered to teach art classes at Central Elementary School. She also served a Girl Scout troop leader and as an Arkadelphia Band Booster.

Wanda was a talented artist who won awards in regional art competitions She combined her interest in local history with her art, creating watercolor paintings and pen and ink drawings of Clark County's historic homes and buildings. She was commissioned to paint portraits of private homes and those works are treasured by their owners. She was also an expert seamstress and later in her life became skilled at digital embroidery design.

She is survived by her husband, Edwin Martin of Arkadelphia; her daughter, Valerie Martin and her husband, Patrick Mullen, of Lafayette, Louisiana; her daughter, Elaine Kneebone and her husband, Andrew Kneebone, of Arkadelphia; her granddaughter, Alice Kneebone of Arkadelphia; her mother, Pauline Horne of Clarksdale, Mississippi; her sister, Faye Mills and her husband Terry of Darling, Mississippi; her brother, Joe Horne and his wife, Shera, of Pope, Mississippi; and her dearest friend since her MSCW days, Margaret Bond of Santa Rosa, California. She was preceded in death by her beloved McLellan grandparents; her father, J.L. Horne; and her brother, Dale Horne.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, from 4PM to 6PM at the Captain Henderson House Bed & Breakfast on the campus of Henderson State University. There will be no services. In her later years, Wanda enjoyed water aerobics at the HSU swimming pool, so the family suggests that donations in Wanda's memory be made toward the purchase of a handicapped accessible pool lift through the Henderson State University Foundation, c/o Angie Bell, HSU Box 7540, Arkadelphia, AR 71999.