Martha Ann Bright

Martha Ann Bright, 51, of Apex North Carolina passed away Wednesday, April 26th 2023 unexpectedly at her home.

Martha was the youngest of three daughters born to Ralph Bright and the late Lou Hoffler Bright. She was born on February 7th, 1972 in Gastonia, North Carolina. Martha was a free spirit, passionate, generous, caring and always chose to help those in need. She graduated from Charles E. Jordan High School in 1990. She continued to pursue knowledge, further her education, and work continuously throughout her life in many fields and capacities, with always the goal of helping others. She studied Micro Computer Systems Technology at Durham Tech and Medical Billing and Insurance Coding at Herzing University. She was multi-talented, using her practical business and organizational skills, her love of people and her creative and artistic talents to advocate for victims of domestic violence, feed the hungry, provide opportunities and basic needs to the homeless, support the recovery of men and women battling substance abuse, empower individuals and strengthen community resource availability. She loved her family, cared for strangers, and had a heart for those who are downtrodden.

Martha was preceded in death by her mother and best friend whom she cared for during her many years of extended illness and admired her for her courage, creativity and loyalty. She is survived by her father, Ralph and wife Lynda of Laurinburg, North Carolina. She often attributed her love of the Lord to being raised in the church as the daughter of a minister who trained her up in the way she should go. She was a Christian and always shared her testimony to encourage others in their struggles. Her greatest source of pride was her son, and only child, Garry "Andrew" Bright, his wife Kyrie' and her grandchildren Jessie West Bright, Kaiya Elizabeth Bright, and Adrien Lee Bright of Louisburg, North Carolina. She enjoyed her visits to Louisburg and would often stay for days and weeks at a time to enjoy every occasion, holiday and milestone. She will also be missed by her partner Mark Twarkins of the home; her sisters, Mary Lou (Tracey) Clark of Apex, NC and Sarah (Johnny) Gilbert of Chapel Hill, NC; nieces, Allison Gilbert and Abby Clark; nephew, Tate Clark; and her son's father Gary Lee and his family whom she also considered her family. She was well loved by family, friends, and by strangers and will be fondly remembered for her genuine concern for helping others, accept them as they were, and her ability to love without judgment.

A Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 at the Alert Pentecostal Holiness Church in the Alert community of Louisburg in Franklin County, where she visited often and always felt at home. The Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. and officiated by Reverend Jerry Fuller. Dinner will be provided by the Alert PH Church family and there will be a time for food, fellowship, and the sharing of memories. Guests are encouraged to wear purple, her favorite color, the color of her birthstone and the color representing the fight against domestic violence.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorials be made to RecoveryAlive.com in her name or to Safe Space. Checks may be made payable to Safe Space and mailed to PO box 240 Louisburg, NC 27549 or online by credit card at ncsafespace.org so that Martha's legacy of love can continue to help individuals and families in crisis by providing shelter and community resources.

Arrangements are made by Strickland Funeral Home and Crematory in Louisburg www.stricklandfuneralhome.net and a memorial slideshow can be viewed on the Strickland Facebook page. The family of Martha Bright would like to thank Strickland Funeral Home, Alert Pentecostal Holiness Church, Rev. Jerry and Sharon Fuller and congregation for the kindness you have shown during this time of bereavement.

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