Martha "Marty" Chambers

Martha “Marty” Ann White Chambers, 91, widow of Alfred Lamar Chambers, of Athens, died February 16, 2023.  Born in Standish, ME on October 4, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Philip Rodney White, Sr and the late Martha Sanborn White.

Marty (her family affectionately called her Martha Ann) graduated from Reading High School in Reading, MA in 1949, where she was the starting point guard for three years on the women’s basketball team. She attended The University of Maine at Orono and then began her professional career in the x-ray (now known as radiology) field at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA.  She moved up quickly and was provided the opportunity during her time at Mass General to give numerous presentations at national conferences across the country while serving in leadership roles at the local and state level in related professional organizations.

In 1960, she met her future husband, Al Chambers, through mutual friends, and they were married on November 5, 1960.  Marty and Al lived in Southington, CT where their two oldest children, Doug and Carol, were born.  In early 1966, they moved to Athens, GA and made Athens their permanent home for the remainder of their lives.  Their two youngest children, David and Phil, were born after they moved to Athens.  They spent many of their retirement years living in both Athens and Sebago, ME where they enjoyed hosting family and friends at their beloved camp on Peabody Pond. Marty and Al were married for 55 years, until Al passed away in 2016.

Marty continued to maintain her professional certification and worked part time while primarily being a full-time mother for her four children.  Marty preferred being active and always loved being able to volunteer in her kids’ classes and do her share of carpool shifts, while establishing herself as a baker extraordinaire with her family and friends.  Marty’s baking talents were well known, and her family and friends to this day still talk about their favorite cookies, candies, and cakes she always seemed to be making for a family gathering, a school fundraiser, a party, a meeting or sporting activity, or just to have ready to share when family and friends came by.

Marty began volunteering at Athens Christian School in the early 1970s after their children started attending there.  In addition to volunteering in each child’s classroom, Marty helped extensively with fundraising when football became a school sport.  She was in charge of the football and basketball concession stands for all home games until their youngest son graduated in 1986.  Marty is best known among ACS alums and their families for Co-Chairing the annual Harvest Bazaar fundraiser for many years and for making her famous Rice Chex (‘white stuff”) candy she invented more than 50 years ago to sell in the bake shop each time.  She also worked part time at ACS until she made the decision to return to her beloved radiology field.

In 1986, Marty began working in the radiology department at Athens Orthopedic Clinic and managed that department and purchased all medical supplies for the practice when she retired in 1996.  Marty served on the Advisory Board for the Radiologic Technology program at Athens Tech and enjoyed speaking to classes in that program and having students come and work under her supervision while completing the requirements for that program.

Marty was also very active within the Athens area community and served on various committees at her churches in both GA and ME.  She served in various officer roles within the Athens Little League program and was the first ever female to serve as President for multiple years for Athens American National Senior League.  She earned the distinction of “Mrs. Baseball” for her many years of service within the Athens Little League program.

Marty was an active member for many years of The Order of Eastern Star, along with serving in the Auxiliarys for various veterans’ organizations Al was active in.

Of all the titles she was given, her favorite one was becoming Grammie to her 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  She adored them and was always excited to watch them learn and grow.

In addition to her parents, Marty was preceded in death by all four siblings – Elizabeth Hodges, Mary Burns, Philip Rodney White Jr., and Richard White.

Marty is survived by her four children - Doug (Carol) Chambers, Carol (Lee) Catoe, David Chambers, and Phil (Jennifer) Chambers; her eleven grandchildren – Matt (Nick), Kelly, Brandon, Marissa (Wes), Megan, Kevin (Ashley), Kayla,  Michael, FuYong Li, Kate, and Lily; her two great grandchildren – Jeremiah and Waylon; her sister in law Peggy White; her brother in law Dwain Chambers; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Lord and Stephens, WEST, Saturday, February 25, 2023 beginning at 12:00 Noon.  Services will follow in the chapel at 2:00 PM.  Burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may also be made in her name to Alzheimer’s Association Georgia.