MARTHA LOIS MCWHORTER SPRINGFIELD

1938 — 2025

Martha Lois McWhorter Springfield was born in Bryan, Texas on July 7, 1938, to William Monroe McWhorter and Erma Aline Bullock McWhorter. Martha grew up with six brothers and sisters: Lillie, Paula, Sonny, Clifton, Clyde and Peggy. Playing in the Steep Hollow area of Bryan, Martha would rather be outside running, riding horses and exploring than be in a classroom. Martha’s formal education ended in 1954 with a 10th grade education, but this didn’t stop her from being a successful mother, business owner and volunteer.

While working fulltime in retail and raising a family, Martha studied hard inhersparetimetopursue and earn her beauticians’ license. As a hairdresser, she started working in salons in Houston, then eventually movedtoNorthZulch/Madisonville wheresheopened herbeautyshopandowned herbiblebookstoreformany years. While working, Martha wentbacktoschooland gotherGED,thencompleted coursesatMcLennan CountyCollege,whereshe studiedComp&Rhetoric andGeneralPsychology.

One of Martha’s favorite accomplishmentswasteaching Head Start in the 90s. She not only taught children, getting them ready to attend school, she also helped a youngmothergetherGED andgoontosupervisethe HeadStartPrograminMadison County. At age 57, realizing she needed retirement, Marthaappliedtoworkfor theTexasDepartmentof Corrections as a correctional officer. After intense physical training, Martha worked as an officer until she eventually retired from TDC.

If it sounds like Martha was extraordinary, she was! She was a writer and a poet. One of her many poems spoke volumes about her creativity: “If I could go through life once more, And be the child my mother bore, We’d laugh and play and hug and kiss— And show the world I did not miss All the things a child can be, But most of all, I’d just be me!” Martha’s husband, Reedus “Bob” Cagle brought two young children with him into their marriage— Jeannie and Johnny. As a very young woman, Martha embraced and loved them as her own. In 1960 and 1965, Martha and Bob had two children: Lynn and Greg Cagle. Martha’s pride and joy were all of her children. She poured her heart into raising them and encouraging them to be as much as they could be. She was a wonderful mother who taught her children faith in God and salvation through Jesus Christ. She raised Johnny, Jeannie, Lynn and Greg to go to church, she taught them the value of hard work, and she inspired all of them to be better people.

Martha loved her grandchildren: Wade,Tommy, Robby and Erik and they loved their “Nanna.” Martha received her “grandma name” from her first grandson, Wade. No one could make a baby laugh and smile the way Nanna could. She sang to them, played with them and spoiled them in the very best grandmotherly fashion. Nanna took them to church, taught them to bowl, and treated them at restaurants.

Martha’s ability was amazingasshealways foundawaytoaccomplish anythingsheputhermind to.Shealwaysgavewhatshe hadtohelpothers.Shewas anamazingwomanwho perseveredthroughmany adversities, and her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephewswillalwaysremember her as the mischievous, funny,playful—andmostof all—loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt.

Marthawasprecededin death by her parents, William andErmaMcWhorter;two sisters, Paula Nell Bridges (Kenneth)andPeggyElaine Schelsteder (Richard); two brothers, Winston Franklin “Sonny”McWhorterand ClydeMonroeMcWhorter; andherson,JohnnyMax Cagle (Sindy).

Martha’s legacy of love lives on in her children, Jeannie Lollar (Butch), Lynn Cagle, and Greg Cagle (fiancé Shannon); along with her grandchildren, Robby Crofoot, Erik Crofoot, Wade Lollar (Debbie), Tommy Lollar (Nicki), Lolita Lollar, Ashley Parvin (Chris); great-grandchildren, Arianna, Cheyenne, Payton, Ashlynn (Michael), JJ, Katie, Kinley, Siara, Hunter (Cassie), Meghan, Rowdy, Johnathan, and Bryton; great-great grandchild, CJ; her siblings, Lillie Dell Leonard (Bill) and Clifton McWhorter (Carolyn); as well as a host of nieces and nephews whom she adored. Marthalovedyellow roses, red birds and antiques. Whenyoufindatreasure, think of Martha!

Martha’s favorite scripture, whichsheoftenquoted was Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

A funeral service honoring Martha’s life was held at 2p.m.Sunday,May4,2025, in the chapel at the Madisonville FuneralHome,Madisonville, Texas, immediately followed by burial in Willowhole Cemetery,NorthZulch, Texas. Bro.GlennConnor officiated the service and Phil andLeilaniMarquezserved as musicians.

PallbearerswereRobby Crofoot, Erik Crofoot, Butch Lollar,WadeLollar,Tommy Lollar, Billy Leonard.

Final arrangements for Martha Lois Springfield were underthecompassionate care and direction of Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas.