Martha Nell Guess

Martha Nell Willingham Guess A Memorial service celebrating the life of Martha Guess will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon St., Shreveport. Officiating will be Rev. Mimi McDowell. There will be a reception in the church parlor immediately following the service. Private graveside services were previously held. Martha Guess was born on June 14, 1924 in Europa, Mississippi. As a young girl she moved to Jackson, Mississippi where she graduated from Central High School and attended Millsaps College. On June 16, 1946, she married Olius A. Guess, Jr. They moved to Bunkie, La where they lived for four years making lifelong friends and enjoying life as a newly married couple. In 1950, they moved to Shreveport, La where they started their family and new friendships. Martha Guess died on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at The Glen Retirement Community. Martha and Olius joined Noel Memorial United Methodist Church in 1950. Martha belonged to and helped teach the Rasmussen Class, loved her service with the wonderful outreach programs of the church and, along with good friends, planned and cooked many church-wide dinners. Martha loved her Wednesday Bible Study group as they engaged in deep studies, had lots of fun adventures and beautiful luncheons. She volunteered and served on many school PTAs and community boards. In 1980, Martha became a member of The Glen Retirement Board, where she served as President from 1983 to 1985. She saw the property purchased, the ground broken, the construction begin and was on hand to celebrate the grand opening of The Glen. In 2008, Martha moved to Woolf Cottage, for Alzheimer care, where she served as the unofficial social director and tour guide. The family of Martha Guess would like to express their sincere and heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staffs of Woolf Cottage and Magnolia Wing of Glen Health for their friendship and loving care of Martha. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, William M. Willingham and Louise Dodd Willingham, her husband Olius and her sister Jane Willingham Gayden. She is survived by two daughters, Gale Roberson and husband Bill of Seattle, Washington, and Becky Cooksey and husband David of Shreveport; one son Dan Guess and wife Kathy of Crescent Springs, Kentucky. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Michael Roberson, Andy Roberson and wife Andrea, Holly Abney and husband Derrick, Matt Cooksey and wife Jenny, Rob Cooksey and wife Shannon, and Emily, Grant and Allison Guess; seven great-grandchildren; cousin Rebecca Bufkin Phillips and niece Dale Gayden Jernigan and husband Blair. The family suggests memorials may be made to Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon, Shreveport, La 71101; The Glen Retirement System, 403 E. Flournoy Lucas Road, Shreveport, La 71115; or Volunteers of America, 360 Jordan Street, Shreveport, La 71101.