Hilda Martak's Obituary
Hilda Noble Martak of Memphis died Thursday, October 15, 2009. Mrs. Martak was born in Shaw, Mississippi to the late Lora Jones Noble and the late John Meridoth Noble. During her childhood and youth, Mrs Martak lived in Anguilla, Mississippi with her parents and her eight siblings – two brothers and six sisters. One sister had died at age two before Mrs. Martak was born.In Anguilla, Mrs. Martak enjoyed playing basketball, performing in plays, and singing alto in the glee club. Her most ardent talent was designing and sewing her special occasion dresses, a skill taught to her by her mother. Mrs. Martak was a very talented ballroom dancer and attended weekly musical gatherings at the home of her future husband’s aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs Duncan Mullins. The Mullins’ son, a concert pianist, played the piano for the much anticipated dances. Although Mrs. Martak was a member of a large family with varied interests, the entire family, again led by their musical mother at the piano, learned to sing and harmonize old hymns and popular songs of the day. The family still sings together today and has passed their talents on to future generations. As a teenager, Mrs. Martak held and clung to a younger sister on a houseboat on the Sunflower River as members of her family escaped the rising waters in their hometown during the 1927 flood. Mrs. Martak married William Kamon Martak of Anguilla on October 25, 1930 and moved to Memphis to begin their married life. She was a partner and support to him in all of his numerous achievements, honors, and accomplishments. In the cotton world, Mr. Martak was president of The Cotton Oil Mill and Ginners Association. Mrs. Martak was at his side meeting all the demands of his office at annual conventions at the Buena Vista Hotel in Biloxi, Mississippi each spring. Mrs. Martak was a founding member and served as an officer in the Cotton Wives Association of Memphis, which was formed during the years her husband was elected to two consecutive years as president of the Memphis Board of Trade. Mrs. Martak’s sewing skills surfaced again when she entered a Singer Sewing Machine contest and her three year old daughter modeled a velvet and lace dress, made by her mother on the stage of the old Ellis Auditorium in downtown Memphis. Mrs. Martak won the sewing machine and her daughter still owns the dress and the machine. Mrs. Martak and her husband were members of Madison Heights Methodist Church and the Character Builders Bible Class for many years where they served as officers and teachers. Together they were part of a group from Madison Heights Methodist church and five other Methodist churches who became the charter members of a new Methodist church to be built in east Memphis. It was officially named Christ Methodist church. Mrs. Martak served as the first treasurer of the Women of the Church and Mr. Martak was treasurer of the first Men’s Board of Stewards during the energetic beginning of the new church. Mr. and Mrs. Martak and their daughter were part of the founding members, few in number but giants in faith, seeking spiritual direction to dream and sacrificially struggle to purchase small portions of land at a time for the new church plant. Today, the result of the prayerful planning and hard work of the original 600 members majestically stands in the form of Christ United Methodist Church at the corner of Poplar and Grove Park. The Martaks were avid Memphis State Tiger basketball supporters beginning in the old Field House in 1955. When the games were moved to the Coliseum, two rows center court were reserved for family and friends. Years were spent traveling with the team to various tournaments accompanied by their grandchildren and their daughter and son-in-law. Following 40 years in the cotton industry, Mr. and Mrs. Martak began a new business, Martak Enterprises, a real estate, construction and insurance firm. Mrs. Martak sold and decorated the newly constructed homes. When Mr. Martak suddenly died in September 1974, Mrs. Martak assumed the leadership of the company until her retirement. Mrs. Martak was a member of The Memphis Board of Realtors and The Memphis Home Building Association. Mrs. Martak had traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Hawaii, and Mexico with her husband. Following her husband’s death, she traveled to Israel and Rome with her daughter and granddaughter. Her world travels included journeys to Portugal, Hong Kong, England, and Scotland with her friend Mrs. Ailine Maxwell; Austria, Switzerland, Checkoslovakia with her sister Josephine Noble and members of Christ United Methodist Church; and antique buying trips to England and Wales with her daughter and son-in-law. Mrs. Martak was a member of the Woman’s Exchange of Memphis. She served as cashier for luncheons in the tearoom for many years. Mrs. Martak was an active member of the Eastwood Home and Garden Club for 45 years in which she served terms as president and each year as a hostess. Mrs. Martak and her husband nurtured and maintained a rose garden for many years and shared the bounty of the garden with friends and her church. Mrs. Martak was a member of the Fort Assumption and Hermitage Chapters of The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Martak’s emphasis in life was her family. She prepared bountiful meals on holidays and her home was a festive gathering place. Family members leaving on automobile trips could expect a homemade lunch including Mrs. Martak’s chocolate brownies and banana bread. The banana bread became her traditional gift on Halloween and Valentine’s Day to her grandchildren and their families. Mrs. Martak collected and studied cookbooks. Her culinary and entertaining skills reached beyond her family to friends, her church circle, and special events of organizations to which she belonged. Mrs. Martak enjoyed painting and produced beautiful needlepoint creations for friends and family. Mrs. Martak’s skills and contributions in life and her eagerness to help others are remembered and hopefully emulated by her family. Mrs. Martak leaves her daughter Mrs. Patsy Martak Seabrook and her son-in-law Mr. James H. Seabrook, Jr.; her grandson, Mr. Hunter Seabrook and his wife Jill; her granddaughter Mrs. Carey Seabrook Goodman and her husband John; five great grandchildren Mary-Ashley Seabrook, Hunt Seabrook, Brook Goodman, Kate Seabrook, and Win Goodman. She also leaves five sisters: Mrs. Edna Earl Barlow of Memphis, Mrs. Jeanette Bishop of Hillsborough, New Jersey; Mrs. Mary Joyce Jones of Brandon, Mississippi, and Mrs. Jean Salyer Phillips of Brookhaven, Mississippi and one brother Mr. Hugh Jones Noble of Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Martak leaves two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Frances Noble of Brandon, Mississippi and Mrs. Regina Noble of Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Martak was preceded in death by her brother Mr. John Harold Noble and her sister Josephine Noble. Mrs. Martak leaves multiple nieces and nephews including Mr. Ed Barlow of Memphis. Mrs. Martak leaves her loving caregivers of many years: Ms. Savannah Davis of Memphis and Ms. Eliza Phillips of Moscow, Tennessee; Mrs. Linda Rambo of Memphis; Mrs. Garnita Beard of Memphis; Mrs. Jacqueline Hurt of Whitehaven; and Mrs. Bonnie McClure of Red Banks, Mississippi. Mrs. Martak’s family is grateful to Mrs. Tammy Jorgensen of Olive Branch, Mississippi for her devoted loving care. Dr. Steve Dodson and Dr. Maxie Dunnam will officiate at a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 19 in the sanctuary of Christ United Methodist Church. Memorials are requested to be sent to Christ United Methodist Church or LeBonheur Seabrook Asthma Fund
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