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It is with great sorrow we share that Martha Brown, 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 30, 2023. Martha was born in Hartsville, SC on September 13, 1939 to the late John Jacob Little and Ava Shaw Little (Gardner). She graduated from Bethune High School in 1957, attended Winthrop College and later Richmond Professional Institute (now Virginia Commonwealth University) where she received her BFA. She was an active member in her church family at Bethune Presbyterian Church where she served on numerous committees for many years. She was also an active member and past president of the Bethune Woman’s Club. Martha’s work career was mostly in the insurance business working for several agencies locally and later with Gardner Associates in Columbia, SC. She was an avid gardener and received her Master Gardener designation through Clemson University. She was also an accomplished artist with hundreds of paintings to her credit over a 60 year career. She became an art instructor after she retired and held many teaching events in various places in her community as well as other places in South Carolina. She and Merrill spent their fun time traveling and also in Myrtle Beach, playing golf, painting, walking and just enjoying their life. Many of her paintings were inspired by her community, her travels and walks on the beach. Martha is survived by her sons, Lee Aiken and his wife, Patty, of Summerfield, NC and Michael Brown of Hopkins, SC. She is also survived by her brother, Barr Harris Gardner III (Sonny) and his wife, Kathy of Chapin, SC; nephew, Barr Harris Gardner IV (Harris), his wife Pammie, and their children, Hana Jo and Barr Harris Gardner V (Quincy) of Louisville, KY. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Merrill Brown; her stepfather, Barr Harris Gardner, Jr. and a brother, John Dan Little. A service in remembrance of Martha’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, December 8 at Bethune Presbyterian Church, Bethune, SC. Dr. Guy Oliver and Rev. Sanders Read will officiate. The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship building. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the American Heart Association. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home and Crematory in Hartsville, SC are caring for the family. An inurnment will be at a later date at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Greenville, SC where she will be laid to rest with Merrill.

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Mrs. Martha Aiken Brown

September 13, 1939 - November 30, 2023