Martha Humphreys Andrews

Martha Humphreys Andrews, 99, of Pine Bluff died peacefully at Trinity Village Medical Center on February 26, 2016. She had a full, wonderful life and was an inspiration to and leader of her large, extended family. Martha was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on September 23, 1916, one of five children of Hugh Harrison Humphreys and Mattie Orto Humphreys. After graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1934, she attended the University of Arkansas for a short time where she was a Chi Omega. She then attended secretarial school in Washington, DC, and after graduation returned to Arkansas to work as an assistant to her grandfather, Thomas Hadden Humphreys, Associate Arkansas Supreme Court Justice. In 1940 she married Collins Adams Andrews Jr., a planter, and spent her life in Pine Bluff. After marriage she focused on raising her children and her extensive volunteer work. She was a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, the Junior Mathontes Club, and the Junior Sesame Club, serving as an officer in each. She was also a lifetime member of First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff. Though gracious and unassuming, Martha was organized, thorough, and intelligent. She encouraged both education and independence in her children and treasured their accomplishments as well as those of their families. She was interested in her family history and often talked about her grandfathers - both Judge Humphreys and Dr. Zaphney Orto, one of the founders of Simmons Bank. Her love of family led her to work diligently with her sisters to keep the Humphreys descendants together, an effort resulting in frequent large, multi-generational family gatherings. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three of her siblings, and her daughter, Martha (Marty) Andrews Nord. She is survived by her son, Collins Adams Andrews III, (Jeannie) of Little Rock; her youngest sister, Elizabeth Ann Brown of Maumelle; four grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. After her husband's death in 1998, Martha lived at Trinity Village in Pine Bluff. Her family appreciates the support, companionship, and care the entire Trinity Village staff provided over the years and extends a special thanks to her long-time caregiver and good friend, Allene Adams. Following the graveside service at Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff at 1 p.m. Friday, March 4, her memorial service follows at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff with the Reverend Susan Carter Wiggins officiating. A reception follows the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 717 W. 32nd St., Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603, or Trinity Village, 6400 Trinity Drive, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.