Obituary of Martha Laughlin Hatter

Martha Laughlin Hatter, 77 of Goode, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital. She was born on Monday, February 2, 1942 in Bedford County, a daughter of the late Vivian Edward Laughlin and Nora Lucy Goodman Laughlin. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Earl Wayne Hatter, her sons, Sherman Johnson, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Johnson; brothers, Melvin Laughlin, Nelson Laughlin, Lawson Laughlin and her sister, May Dobyns. She was retired from Rubatex Corp.and was a member of Timber Ridge Baptist Church. She is survived by her son, Kevin "HoHo" Johnson; her brothers, Haden Laughlin, Clifton Laughlin and Leland Dobyns; her sisters, Nellie Breeden and Diana Baldwin as well as her grandchildren, Ashley Johnson, Alexandria Johnson and Sammy Jo Johnson. Martha was the fourth child of ten will forever be remembered for the love and caring daughter, Sister, Mother and Grandmother that she was. With open arms she embraced life with its many ups and downs and her faith that God helped her through it all. She read her bible daily And was a devoted Christian throughout her days here on earth. She love to cook and she loved getting her family and friends together for meals and fellowship. She spoke fondly of her late husband and loved him with all of her heart. Having four boys wasn’t easy and she told the story of their first date in which she was unable to get a sitter and how he took the kids with them to watch a wrestling match. He quickly became the love of her life and together they raised Junior, Jimmy, Jeffrey and HoHo. They spent many hours outside hunting, fishing, and playing baseball which Earl coached and Martha cheered them on with a cowbell. As the years went by Martha found herself mourning the death of her three boys the tragedy of health complications and a horrible accident which took the life of her husband. She was left with her now only child HoHo. She told people of the care, compassion and support of her family and all of the things that they had done to help her throughout those hard times, how thankful she was for her family, as well as how important they were to her. She didn’t travel much but did manage to venture out for just a few family vacations she went on a trip with May, Tammy, and her youngest boy HoHo to Tennessee to see Graceland and then to North Carolina to the Biltmore Estate. Later her May, Nellie, and Erma went to a Revival and Riverboat trip. It is said that shopping is good therapy and Martha sure enjoyed a good bargain so she would often be found looking through a large array of things found in estate sales auctions and yard sales. She was a collector of many things but the largest collection she had by far was of salt and pepper shakers. She had a goal to be in the Guinness book of world records whether or not she had collected enough is still to be seen but whether she did or did not make it to the book, they still brought her and her gifters joy to see her get tickled at each new set that she received. During the summer months she was eager to spend time picking from the many gardens of her brothers. Taking car rides over the mountains purchasing Apples, cabbage, tomatoes and other various ingredients she would use for her favorite canning recipes. She shared what she canned with others and enjoyed hearing their opinions about what she had made. She had always had a large family and an even larger heart and so it is no wonder she would open her arms, heart and home to her extended family and was even looking forward to her first great grand-baby she said she had started having her babies when she was 16 and it was about time she would get to see him she had waited that she had waited long enough. She will be looking down from above at all she helped create and she would be proud and thankful ,as she always was, of all of whom she left behind. She knew it was time for her to go to her final resting place. She was ready for the peace and the comfort of our heavenly father and her place in the kingdom of heaven. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at Updike Funeral Chapel, Bedford with Rev. Phillip Kelly officiating. Interment will follow in Peaksview Christian Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6 until 8 PM at Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.