Martha Culley

Martha Ross Meadows was born February 12, 1928, in Opelika (Lee County) Alabama. Known fondly as Rossie, she enjoyed a fulfilling childhood with friends and family in Opelika, before attending Queens College (Charlotte, NC) and Auburn University, graduating in 1950. An early lover of jazz music, Rossie trekked to Phenix City and the Tuskegee Airfield to hear some of the best jazz kings of the early era.

An avid music lover and jitter-bugger, Ross enjoyed her years as a Kappa Delta at Auburn University, dancing to the Auburn Knights Orchestra whenever possible. Her future husband, Don Culley, was a trumpet player and manager of the Auburn Knights, and they married in 1951 in Opelika Al.

After marrying, Ross and Don settled in Crestwood and Mountain Brook AL; they later moved to Morristown, TN for Don to start CEMCO, Inc, and vacationed in Edisto Island, SC, for many years, before they returned to Alabama in the 1980s. They settled in Pelham while building their dream home on Ono Island. Ross was a joy to be with, and she shared her enthusiasm for life unselfishly, making lifelong friends along the way. She was an avid reader and passed her love of literature on to her children Laura, Sally and Lisa.

Ross is survived by her sister-in-law, Jean Meadows (Mrs. Robert T. Meadows Jr.) and cousins, Lily Farley Dale and Clement Clay “Bo” (Gene) Torbert, Jr. She is also survived by her daughters and grandchildren: Laura Carper and grandson Phillip Carper; Sally Wilkins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren Michael (Andrea) Howard (Jace, Grant, Emma Ross), Angela Battaglino, Dallas Wilkins (Abby Gorton, Braxton, Landon) and Andi Wilkins; Lisa Culley Patete and husband Billy Patete. And her nieces and nephews, whom Ross enjoyed so much: Robert T (Ruth) Meadows, III, Rainer (Susan) Meadows, Jean (Bruce) Heath in Opelika, and, in Birmingham, Lilette Robinson, Nancy (Kevin) Griffith, Janet (Frank) von Bechmann, Dewey Anderson “Andy” (Nanette) White III, and a host of great-nieces and -nephews.

She was pre-deceased by her parents, Gertrude and Robert T. Meadows Sr.; her dear brother, Robert T. “Jack” Meadows Jr., and her beloved husband, Donnell H. Culley, Jr.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 - 1:00, Sunday, January 14, 2018, at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home, Hwy 150 in Hoover. Service will follow in the chapel at 1:00. Interment will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Auburn Knights Alumni Association or to a charity of your choice.