Martha Black Carpenter

Martha Black Carpenter died peacefully at home on November 16, 2021, shortly after receiving a diagnosis of inoperable cancer. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Campbell Black, Sr. and Jessie Godfrey Black of Sanford, NC. Martha was born on February 3, 1934, in Sanford, NC, where she grew up. She was a graduate of Peace College in Raleigh, NC. After graduation, she served as a hostess for Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company in Durham, NC before becoming a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines in 1954. She married Christopher Avery Carpenter, Sr. on February 8, 1958, and they lived in Rocky Mount, NC, where Chris was a high school teacher and football coach at Rocky Mount Senior High School. They later moved to Chapel Hill, NC, Nashville, TN and Atlanta, GA with Chris’s football career. They moved to Florence, SC in 1980 to be closer to their families in North and South Carolina. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, her parents, and her brother, Thomas Campbell Black, Jr. of Sanford, NC. She is survived by her daughters, Anne Carpenter and Sarah Carpenter (Kitty) of Florence, Chris Carpenter, Jr. (Anne) of Atlanta, GA and grandson, Avery Carpenter of Austin, TX. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed good meals with family and friends. All who came to visit would find spirited conversation, great music playing and a wonderful assortment of food and drink. One of her favorite things was spending time at her Ocean Isle, NC beach house where she enjoyed sitting on the porch and watching the sun set. She also enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles. The family wants to thank all the wonderful caregivers who made her last days more comfortable and a heartfelt debt of gratitude to her long-time friend and neighbor, Joy Jamrok for all her help and support. Graveside Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 21, 2021, at Jonesboro Cemetery, 501 Judd Street, Sanford, NC, directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Florence County Disabilities Foundation, PO Box 400, Lake City, SC 29560. Please sign the tribute wall for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.