Martha M. Langston

Martha Morton Langston, 93, longtime resident of Lakeland, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2016. She was born on February 20, 1923 to Alta and David Morton and grew up in Niles, Ohio. She was valedictorian of her senior class at McKinley High School. She went on to receive a B.A. from Oberlin College and an M.A. from Syracuse University. She had a career in education administration, as Dean of Women at Oregon State University and then University of North Carolina. She moved to Lakeland to marry Bernard ""Bob"" Langston, who she met on a blind date. Martha had a lifelong love of gardening, books, music, and travel, and did the New York Times Crossword Puzzle every morning in ink. She and Bob won many prizes for their camellias, and Martha shared her flowers with her many friends until near the end of her life. Martha was a proud breast cancer survivor, and marched in many Light the Night walks to raise funds for cancer research. She was a docent at the Polk Museum of Art for many years, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland. She was active in P.E.O., Contemporary Club, Antiques Club, and the Camellia Club. She is predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents Alta and David Morton, her husband""s siblings Dr. Mary Langston Parker, Elizabeth Langston Tomlinson, and Judge Thomas Langston, nephews Keith Parker and Rusty Tomlinson, and her grand-nephew Bradley Langston. She is survived by her daughter Amelia Langston and her family Beverlee Silva and Reid Martin, as well as her sister-in-law Margaret Langston Badder, and several generations of nieces and nephews including Scott and Denese Langston of Lakeland. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday June 13, 2016 at 2:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to: Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA, 30322.