Martha Mae Johnston Grisham

BENTON, LA - Services for Martha Mae Johnston Grisham, "Ma", will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Rose-Neath's Bossier Chapel. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Rob Weber, Rev. Juan Huertas and Rev. Sione Tu'uta. Interment will follow at Plain Dealing Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service, beginning at 10 a.m. Martha was born January 22, 1934 in Plain Dealing, LA to William Belfer Johnston and Thelma Mae Seward Johnston. She passed away after a lengthy illness on April 5, 2016 in Shreveport, LA. She was a member of Benton United Methodist Church. Martha was a homemaker, as well as a leader of any organization she served in, including T.O.P.S. at Asbury United Methodist Church. Martha also attended Girls State in Baton Rouge while in Benton High School and this honor was also achieved by her daughter, Barbara and granddaughter, Mallory. She enjoyed her time as a substitute teacher at Benton Elementary School. She was also very active in all of her children's school activities, including the Benton High School Booster Club, Band and PTA. She was preceded in death by her infant sister, Cynthia Johnston; parents and brother, Johnny Pleas "J.P." Johnston. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Hollis Barham "Tookie" Grisham of Benton; daughter, Barbara Grisham Montgomery and husband, Ron of Keithville; sons, W. Travis Grisham of Bossier City, Thomas Todd Grisham of Pilot Point, TX; grandchildren, Mallory Grace Montgomery and fiancé, Chase Patterson, Andrew Reid Montgomery, Madison Claire Montgomery, Elizabeth Michaelle Grisham; sister, Mary Jewel McDonald of Newellton, LA and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Honoring Martha as pallbearers will be Kenneth Frazier, James Hollis Grisham, J.J. Keeth, Steve Middlebrooks, F.A. "Dusty" Rhodes and Robert Williams. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Pete Burks and Phillip Wilder. The family would like to express their gratitude to Patty Linder and her family and Dr. Ted Warren and his staff for their care and compassion shown to Martha Mae throughout her illness. The family suggests memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.