Martha B. Rayburn

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the homegoing of Martha Bell Butler Rayburn, age 82, of Crenshaw, Mississippi. She was born to Mr. J.C. Butler and Mrs. Cara Bell Buford Butler on October 27th, 1942, in Truslow, Mississippi. She graduated high school from Crenshaw Public School and later attended Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia where she majored in home economics. It was at Northwest, during the year’s homecoming parade, that she met Franklin Rayburn of Como. After a brief time, they married on August 18th, 1962, and moved to Crenshaw.

On March 24th, 1964, they welcomed their first daughter, Karen Suzanne (Suzy) Rayburn, and three years later on May 30th, 1967, they completed their family by welcoming their second daughter, Sharon Kathleen (Kathy) Rayburn. During their early years in Crenshaw, Martha and Franklin entered a joint business venture with their friends Sammy and Barbara Duncan and opened F&S Grocery. Some years later, they branched out from F&S and opened Rayburn’s Grocery in Como, where they stayed in business until the mid 1980’s, when they sold the building to the first owners of the Como Steakhouse. After selling their store in Como, Martha went to Longtown to operate Longtown Grocery all while working part time for the U.S. Postal Service at the Sarah Post Office. In 2000, she left Longtown and took a full-time position at the Sam Lapidus Memorial Library as Head Librarian where she continued to work until her retirement. 

During her married life, she and Franklin resided on East South Avenue in Crenshaw and became prominent town residents. She was a member of Crenshaw Baptist Church for over sixty years where she taught the first grade Sunday School class and later led the Children’s Ministry Sermon that was held during the regular morning services. She was an active member of the Women’s Mission Ministry as well and attended multiple in-country mission trips. She was an avid historian and an expert storyteller. She knew everyone, and who they were related to, in the tri-county area and could sit and tell stories for hours on end. 

She was preceded in death by her parents J.C. and Cara Bell Butler, her sisters Beth Ferguson and Kayren Young, and her husband of nearly sixty years, Franklin Rayburn. She is survived by her daughters Suzy Hawkins (Kenny) of Strayhorn, and Kathy O’Neal (Chris) of Hernando; three grandsons Kent Hawkins of Hernando, Greg O’Neal of Hernando, and Bryant Hawkins of Strayhorn; two great-grandchildren Levi and Ellie Hawkins; her brother J.C. Butler (Donna) of Strayhorn, and a multitude of nieces, nephews, and sisters-in-law. 

Her visitation will be held at Pate-Jones Funeral Home in Senatobia on Thursday, May 22nd from 5:00-7:00 PM. A second visitation will be held at Crenshaw Baptist Church on Friday, May 23rd, from 9:00-11:00 AM with her funeral services to follow. She will be buried next to her husband at Longtown Cemetery after the service. 

Her family would like to extend a deepest heartfelt thank you to everyone for the calls, prayers, words of encouragement, stories, and food. They ask that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crenshaw Baptist Church or the Mississippi Children’s Village in her memory. 

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