Martha Smythers Crowder, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away quietly at home on November 12, 2025, surrounded by family.

Martha's life was centered on family, community, and a steady creative spirit. Born the cherished daughter of Edith Jackson Smythers and Strader H. Smythers, she grew up in a farmhouse in Poplar Camp, Virginia, surrounded by her siblings, and those early years shaped her warmth and loyalty.

She owned and operated Martha's Florist and Oil Paintings in Hillsville for twelve years. Her floral work became a familiar part of the town, known for its beauty and the care she put into every arrangement.

Martha also spent many years painting in oils and watercolors, and she made many stained glass creations that showed her eye for color and design. Art was one of the many ways she expressed her creativity.

A major part of her life was the construction company she built on her own. Martha designed her own floor plans and guided each home with personal attention to quality. Helping families choose and settle into a house she had imagined brought her genuine joy.

She was devoted to her community. Martha was a longtime member and elder of the Hillsville Christian Church, active in the Rotary Club of Hillsville and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, and a charter member of the American Business Women's Association. She served the Town of Hillsville as Vice Mayor and councilman in 1982 and 1983. She also served on the Hillsville Beautification Committee for many years, a role she treasured.

Martha cared deeply for her family. She was a devoted caretaker for her husband and her mother, and she carried the loss of two children, Mark and Eric Crowder, with quiet strength. She is now reunited with them and with her husband, Foy Dale Crowder, whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by three grandchildren, Joshua (Amanda) Crowder, Ivy (Michael) Weeks, and John (Tara) Bible, and by one grandchild of the heart, Max Ault. She also leaves behind seven great-grandchildren, Kelly Bible, Brett Bible, Julie Bible, Thomas Bible, Lily Crowder, Hazel Crowder, and Ada Weeks, who brought joy to her later years.

Martha created beauty, strengthened her community, and her unwavering spirit touched many lives. Her family will carry her memory with gratitude and pride.

A service will be held at Hillsville Christian Church at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, with a visitation with the family before (2:30) and meal to follow.