Elisabeth Martin

Elisabeth Baerbel "Babs" Martin, 79, of Jackson passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023, at Villas of Jackson.

Babs was born July 26, 1943, in Bickenbach, Hesse, Germany, to Valentin and Erna Klinge Assmus. Babs met her future husband, James R. "Jim" Martin, at a pizza parlor in Germany while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force in Germany. They were married Jan. 18, 1964, at First Baptist Church in Jackson.

Babs truly enjoyed serving as activity director at Lutheran Home and was devoted to serving the residents, both on and off the job.

Babs was a former member of German Club of Southeast Missouri and a longtime member of Emanuel United Church of Christ and its Spice of Life Fellowship.

Loving survivors include three children and their families, Tim (Lori) Martin and children, Scott and Brian of Jackson; Todd (Rachale) Martin and children, Kody Kingree, Cheyenne Kessler and Grayson Martin of Jackson; and Nicole Martin of Manchester, Missouri; and a niece and her family, Sabine (Stefan) Haus and children, Benjamin, Katharina and Sebastian Haus of Germany.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a brother, Peter Assmus.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and from 10:30 a.m. to service time Thursday, March 16, at Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson.

The Rev. Sam Roethemeyer will conduct the funeral at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at the church. Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Safe Harbor Animal Shelter, Emanuel United Church of Christ or Crown Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Babs's obituary page at mccombsfuneralhome.com.