Evans, GA - Martha Baggarly Bell Daniel, wife of T. Richard Daniel, finished her ninety-eight-year earthly journey on March 12, 2018.
She was born December 24, 1919, in Valdosta, Georgia, and grew up in Macon, graduating from Miller High School at age sixteen. She was raised in Macon’s First Baptist Church, and was there quite active. She received her B.A. degree in English at Tift College in Forsyth, where she excelled academically and participated in numerous activities, including the Baptist Student Union, attending state-wide conventions where she developed friendships that lasted for life.
She taught school in Dudley, Georgia, for one year before returning to Macon to teach, again becoming active in her church, teaching the college-age Sunday school class. It was at church that she met a young lawyer from Augusta, John C. Bell, who had just been called to active duty and stationed at Camp Wheeler in Macon. On one occasion he brought his close friend, Dick Daniel, to Martha’s home to meet her. When John and Dick left, Dick expressed his view that John should marry Martha, and six months later they did. Fifty-eight years later, Dick did likewise, when he and Martha, both widowed, married on December 26, 2000, a marriage that has brought great joy to them and to their combined seven children, twenty-one grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren and two great- great-grandchildren. Dick became the grandfather that Martha’s grandchildren had not known, often sharing great stories about his dear friend John.
Martha taught a young adult Sunday school class at First Baptist and later taught adult Sunday school classes until well into her eighties.
Martha was very active in the church’s WMU, serving as its president. She served as a delegate from the church to the Southern Baptist Convention and the Georgia Baptist Convention. For many years, she taught a class at the church teaching English as a second language, again continuing until well into her eighties. She was recognized by First Baptist with the Trailblazer Award for women who were at the forefront of advancing the role of women in the governance of First Baptist.
Martha was active in many civic endeavors, serving as chair of the board of the Augusta YWCA, on the board of the Imperial Theater and as a member of the Metropolitan Women’s Club. She was an active supporter of the Augusta Symphony and the Augusta Opera, rarely missing a performance for many years. She was an accomplished gardener and thoroughly enjoyed her garden club.
She was an avid reader, rereading her unabridged Les Meserables every three or four years. She recently completed the reading of her Bible from beginning to end.
Martha returned to teaching after the death of her husband, John, taking a position teaching English at Richmond Academy. She later served as assistant principal of the Academy and then as Director of Personnel for the Richmond County Board of Education. She received a master in English Education from the University of Georgia in 1971 and did further graduate work receiving a Specialist in English Education.
She traveled frequently with two special friends, going to Mexico, England, Europe, Israel, Japan and two trips to China. She took grandchildren, one at a time, on trips to Washington, D.C.
Her church work led to appointment to the church’s long range planning committee, working with one Dick Daniel. They met regularly for lunch at the Snug to advance the committee’s work. When the project was finished, they continued to meet for lunch at the Snug and soon thereafter the wedding in December 2000, in the atrium of First Baptist.
Martha was predeceased by her parents, Alvah Cleveland Baggarly and Verna Newberry Baggarly, her sisters Mary Robertson and Gene Rothenberg. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Martha and Bob Manly of Canton, John and Dee Dee Bell of Augusta, and David and Susie Bell of Augusta, twelve grandchildren, Charles Manly (Lee Ann), Sara Grainger (Shaun), John Manly (Megan), Ansley Bell Threlkeld ( Paul), Elizabeth Bell, Chapman Bell (Rachele), Katelynn Bell, Hailie Hampton Bell Volpitto (Scott), Amanda Bell Shailendra (Paul), David Bell, Jr., Peyton Bell (Kate) and Jordan Bell (Maritess), fifteen great-grandchildren, with another on the way, Dick’s four children, Raleigh Daniel (Beth), Margaret Marvin (James) Tom Daniel (Susan) and Warren Daniel (Margaret), and his nine grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, and two great-great- grandchildren. They will all miss their Mimi.
The family is grateful to Jasmine Bennett, Tracy Evans and Bernell Cave for their loving assistance to Martha in her last illness.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors beginning at 1:00 and a Celebration of Life reception will be at 3:00. The Reverend Will Dyer, The Reverend Patti Fowler, and Dr. Rodger Murchison will officiate at the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Augusta or a charity of your choice.