Martha Ann lived a blessed life. She was born in Oklahoma City on November 16, 1922, the only child of Ralph and Janie Braniger. After her fathers death in 1931, she and her mother moved in with her grandmother Mattie where these ladies nurtured her and provided a fulfilling life through much sacrifice and hard work. Martha Ann attended Putnam City schools for 12 years and graduated as valedictorian in 1941, then in 1945 she completed her bachelors degree at Oklahoma A&M as a member of Phi Kappa Phi (top 10%). The evening she graduated from high school she began dating her neighbor, Roy Blackwood. After college and a year of teaching in Davis, Oklahoma, she & Roy married and made their home with the Navy in Annapolis, Maryland; Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; & Toms River, New Jersey. In 1949 Roy and Marty returned to Oklahoma to begin their family and help with the family business, Blackwood Business College. She and Roy had five children, Robert, Daniel, Rebecca, Susan and Jane Ellen. Later came grandchildren Emily, Becky, Joey & Mattie. In 1959 the family moved to 39th & Council. If those walls could talk they would tell of its homemakers unselfish life. Martha Anns home was forever a-buzz with activity, whether she was caring for her family, conducting business or entertaining. Many have enjoyed her hospitality at bridal and baby showers, church picnics, business college gatherings, Boy Scout & Camp Fire meetings, caroling parties, slumber parties, WMU and Sunday School meetings, egg hunts, firework displays, and a home away from home for students, evangelists, and international guests. When she was nine, Martha Ann professed salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized at Putnam City Baptist Church. Later she helped with the establishment of Tulakes Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Bethany. The spirit of the Lord was evident in her life by the many fruits she bore. She shared Jesus love through teaching, participating in all aspects of missions and by sacrificial giving. Martha Ann was preceded in death by her parents, husband and daughters, Rebecca and Susan. She is survived by sons Robert & Daniel, daughter Jane Ellen and husband Randy Gordon, son-in-law Robert Norman, and her grandchildren Emily Norman, Rebecca and husband Richard Senn, Joey Gordon and Mattie Gordon. It is true that Martha Ann lived a blessed life-she was blessed by God and God blessed others through her.