My family and me by Martha....


I was born in 1934 in Newark, Ohio, the second of three children, and my older brother Joe was born a year and a half ahead of me in Newark also, but my younger brother, Jimmy, was born in Montana, my daddy traveling with the Babcox & Wilcox as a welder. Where daddy went, we all went, and finally settled in Akron, Ohio where I was raised, and I then at 19 moved to Florida when I married. My son and his family still live in Naples, Florida.

I moved to Easley, S.C. 20 years ago and now am half way between the heat and the cold, and the Florida 'bugs', and I mean 'BUGS'. We have a restaurant here called The Sparrow's Nest, same as our website, http://www.sparrowsnest.com, and we invite you all to come and have some great home cookin' and fellowship when passing through Easley, South Carolina.

Mama started my brother and me on the marimba when I was but six and I had to stand on a box to reach the keys, and Joe studied piano as well. Jimmy played the drums and our house was always 'noisy'. Music has been a major part of my whole life, it being almost a sanity savior at times, my being able to communicate my joys, sorrows, and troubles through my music. My younger brother Jimmy, passing away at 48 years of age, and my Mom and Dad, are all in heaven now, and my older brother lives in DC, this past year retiring after 30 years with the Library of Congress copyright office in Washington DC. Both he and I stayed with the music and the music with us all these years, and thanks Mom and Dad for all the sacrifices you made during all those depression years and all throughout World War II for our music and for keeping a roof over our 'rebellious' heads. My younger brother Jimmy served in the Marines and my older brother served in the Air Force. I am so proud and thankful for them both as veterans of the military. Joe was a singer, accompanist and arranger for the Singing Sergeants while serving in the Air Force Band in D.C. from 1957-1961- performing and touring the world with the Singing Sergeants.

It is good for us to look back upon where we came from and just who it was that has brought us this far in life, and just who we owe our thanks to, remembering those who have loved us no matter what! Without each and every one of them, we would not be who and where we are! Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad! Thanks Jimmy! Thanks Joe! And most of all, thank you JESUS, for giving me a Mother who beat the literal hell out of me, and not only that, but taught me the right way to walk and just who to walk with and in, and Him in me! See you Mom.......
I miss you, but not always. Your daughter, Martha

'Click' on The Sparrow's Nest image to view Martha's website.





The little brown house on the hill...(Photo taken Jan. 2001) We lived in this little brown house in Akron, Ohio during the depression and the war years, and when the children flew the 'coop', Mama and Daddy sold that house in 1956 and moved to Florida where I was living. A friend of mine in Ohio from my 1952 high school graduation class drove over there to see if it were still there, and yes, it is still there, and is still brown, and he snapped this photo for me. I helped paint that house brown when I was about nine years old. We all have heartaches and hardships growing up, but not everyone has a 'little' brown house of love to remember! My Mama was the 'love' angel that GOD gave to bind us together. She called being a wife and mother, her
CALLING IN LIFE!


Jimmy, Martha and Joe
Montana

Martha and Joe
Ohio

Joe and Martha
Ohio

Joe and Martha
Ohio

Ohio

Montana

Ohio



Joe
Washington, D.C.




Joe
Washington, D.C.

Joe
Washington, D.C.

Joe
Washington, D.C.


Joe

Joe (Air Force)

Jimmy (Marine)




1970


Back Row: Karen, (Alto Harmony, Rythym Guitar, Mandolin) Julia (Bass Player), Gerrie (Drums, Harmony Vocalist) Bottom Row: Helen, (Marimba) Martha (Lead Singer, Drums, Marimba), Caryn (Harmony, Rythym Guitar)




1972


Left to right: Gerrie, Karen, Martha, Caryn, Helen, Julia, Jay (Lead Singer)




1972


left to right: standing: Gerrie, Martha, Helen
left to right on ground: Caryn, Julia, Karen, Jay




1976


Standing: left to right:
Julia, Helen, Jay, Karen, Caryn
Sitting: Martha, Gerrie




1980


Back Row left to right: Karen, Helen, Caryn
Front Row left to right: Gerrie, Martha, Julia




1993


Easley, S.C. Martha--Drums




1993


Easley, S.C. Martha--Marimba




Armory at Akron, Ohio 1950
Martha & Joe on Marimba
Horace Height Orchestra Talent Contest