Martha Wooten Harwell, 85, of Concord, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2026.

Born on January 28, 1941, in Olin, North Carolina, Martha was the daughter of Calvin Martin Wooten and Nettie Bell Wooten. She was the twelfth of thirteen children and grew up on her family's cotton and tobacco farm in Harmony, North Carolina. She graduated from Harmony High School in 1959.

While babysitting her sister Ruth's children in Raleigh, Martha met the love of her life, Bill Harwell, who was attending North Carolina State University and visiting relatives who lived in the same mobile home park. Their chance meeting began a beautiful love story, and they were married on April 30, 1960. Together they built a loving home and shared more than six decades of marriage.

Family was at the center of Martha's life. She and Bill raised two daughters, Cynthia and Susan, and treasured every opportunity to spend time with their growing family. Annual family reunions with her brothers and sisters, family vacations, weekend meals together, and more than thirty cruises with Bill created countless cherished memories.

Martha faithfully served as the dietitian at Northside Childcare for 27 years, beginning in 1980 and retiring in 2007. She became affectionately known throughout the community as "The Cookie Lady," as former students would often recognize her while shopping and excitedly call out her nickname. She is remembered for her delicious food, sweet personality, and the kindness she showed to every child and family she served.

A devoted Christian, Martha was actively involved in her church and had a special love for missions. Her gentle spirit, caring heart, warm smile, and unwavering kindness touched everyone who knew her. Friends and loved ones consistently described her as a sweet, caring, and wonderful lady whose life reflected compassion and grace.

Martha also enjoyed traveling, especially cruising with her family, participating in her longtime rook club, and playing games.

She was honored as Mother of the Year at Northside Baptist Church during the 1980s, a fitting recognition of the love and care she shared with so many.

Martha is survived by her beloved husband, Bill Harwell; her daughters, Cynthia (Paul) Johnson and Susan (Marc) Zimmerman; her grandchildren, Amber, Ashley (Jake); her great-grandchildren, Cal and Eli; sisters Ruth Jackson and Sue Jones; and sisters-in-law Nancy Wooten and Carolyn Campbell.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Calvin Martin and Nettie Bell Wooten; her brothers, Ralph Journey, Bill, Max, Neil, Donald, Gerald, and Sam Wooten; and her sisters, Mildred Holmes, Lucy Mahaffey, and Peggy Fisher.

A celebration of Martha's life will be held at University Hills Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday, August 5,2026. Visitation will be at 1pm followed by the service at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to support the missions work of Mark Logan, BIMI, PO Box 9, Harrison, TN 37341.

Martha's legacy of faith, love, kindness, and devotion to family will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.