Mrs. Martha Roden Vandiver

Martha Vandiver, age 104, passed away on August 12, 2023, at Riverside Senior Living in Decatur, Alabama. She died after a short illness surrounded by her family and friends. She was born in Macedonia, Alabama on July 9, 1919, to Joshua and Ola Roden. When she was 11 years old her father died and four years later she lost her mother. This was during The Great Depression. She and her younger sister and two older brothers continued to manage and live on the family farm. She graduated from Scottsboro High School in 1939. She attended Florence State Teachers College (UNA) on scholarship where she received a teaching certificate. During World War Il she worked on Redstone Arsenal where she supported the war effort. She did this during the summers while a student at Florence State. She completed higher degrees from Athens State (University) later as she continued to teach. She taught school in several different schools in Jackson county, Alabama, from 1943 to 1968. These schools included Flat Rock, Trenton, and Paint Rock Valley High School. While at Trenton, she met her husband, Frank, and they were married in 1947. She had two children Danny and Pamela. Later the family moved to Skyline, Alabama, and she taught school at Scottsboro, Alabama at Brownwood Elementary until her retirement in 1976. After her husband Frank’s death in 1988, she moved to Russellville, Alabama to be closer to her daughter. She enjoyed teaching school, especially the first grade. She was a good wife and mother, who worked hard, teaching school and raising her family. She professed faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized as a young adult, and was active in church wherever she lived. She and Frank raised their family to follow Christ. She always taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was active in church all her life. She is preceded in death by her parents, Josh and Ola Roden, one sister, Edna McKenzie, brothers, Van Buren Roden and Claude E. Roden. She is survived by her two children Danny Vandiver, (Karen) and Pamela Rousseau (Dr. Morgan), five grandchildren, Lori Bean (Scott), Dr. Paul Vandiver, Dr. Jason Rousseau, Amanda Kerby, Dr. Erica Clark, nine great grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. Internment was at Pine Haven Memorial Gardens in Scottsboro, Alabama, attended by her immediate family and friends. A memorial gathering is planned for Saturday, October 14 at 11 AM, with visitation at 10:30 AM at the Clements Baptist Church, Poplar Creek campus in Athens, Alabama.

Mrs. Martha Roden Vandiver

July 9, 1919 - August 12, 2023