Martha Wright

Martha Mae New Wright (Maw-Maw to many), age 81, was born on May 23, 1944, in San Jon, New Mexico, to George Andrew (Papa) and Betty (Granny) Hensley New. She entered into heavenly eternity on July 24, 2025, in Abilene, Tx.

Delivered by her Daddy in their home, she joined her beloved siblings: Bertie, Florence, George, Arthur, and Johnny, with Dan coming soon after. The New family moved to Winslow, Arkansas, where Martha eventually began attending school while her Daddy cleared timber in a government program. Upon moving to the Natural State, the family of nine lived in a tent for some time before securing a house. While better than a tent, Martha often mentioned the house had cracks so big that snow would blow up through the floor and walls. By earthly standards, they did not have much; but, they made up for it in love for the Lord and for each other. They were incredibly rich in a way that many are not. Martha and her siblings became the best of friends and this bond continued their entire lives.

The family moved from Arkansas to Anson, Texas, after several years of long, cold winters. Papa became a blacksmith, as Granny cared for the children. While in Anson, Martha married John C. Jones in 1958 and they were blessed with two children, Ellen Carol and John Wayne Jones.

In September 1968, as a single mom, Martha began waitressing at The Sirloin in Anson to support her children. One evening a handsome stranger pulled her onto his lap and introduced himself. After that, he came into the cafe daily. He wasn't as interested in the food as he was the beautiful waitress who had stolen his heart. On September 26, 1968 - just two weeks after they met - Bobby Lee Wright and Martha were wed. They firmly believed that they were meant to be together and blend their families into one. Upon their marriage, Martha became a loving mother to Bobby’s two sons, Bobby Lee Jr. (Little Bobby) and Charles Eugene; Bobby became “Daddy” to Ellen and Wayne. The Wright family settled into the farming community of Hobbs, Tx. The following year, Bobby and Martha welcomed Georgie Lea into the world and their family was complete.

Martha loved caring for others and held many jobs that allowed her to do that in some way or another. In 1975, Bobby and Martha purchased the Hobbs grocery store. At the back of the store, Martha provided a fun place for high schoolers when she set up a pool table and enjoyed them coming to play pool and eat pizzas. After selling the store, she proudly became the dietary manager at Fisher County Hospital. She also was a companion for the elderly in their homes and partnered with her daughters in the restaurant and catering business for a time.

Martha instilled in her children, not only the importance of deeply loving your family and working hard, but also spending time on things that bring you joy. She was incredibly talented and enjoyed crocheting everything from doilies and afghans to blankets and doll clothes. She created many wonderful things from colorful oil paintings to gorgeous birthday and wedding cakes. Many of her cherished moments came from time spent in the kitchen, such as baking Christmas candy with her grandkids, all of whom lovingly referred to her as “Maw-Maw.” She was a gifted quilter and when she would share them with her family she would tell them to wrap up in the quilt whenever they needed a hug from Maw-Maw. Maw-Maw made her family feel safe and loved whether with her in person or snuggled up in her quilts. Her grandchildren spent many happy days at their home in Hobbs, where she filled them full of orange push-pops and good, old-fashioned country cooking. Listening to country gospel music was a favorite pastime of Maw’s. Singing, dancing, and sharing these songs about the Lord with her loved ones gave her much joy. Whenever someone married into the family, she became their Maw-Maw as if she had always been their grandma - fiercely loving every person who entered into her family. She and her siblings remained close their entire lives and proudly shared their growing families whenever a New Reunion could take place.

When Maw-Maw wasn’t creating treasured memories with her grandchildren and children, you could bet that she and Bobby (Paw-Paw, once the grandkids arrived) were out fishing somewhere long before the sun came up. Their love of fishing was infectious and their family loved staying at the lake with them. During the 1990s, they became Lake Managers at Lake Champion in Colorado City, making a second home there. Their family has many special memories of that time on the lake, such as staying up late playing dominos and taking trips to the video rental store, which meant we watched Jaws repeatedly! Maw and Paw loved the serenity of being out on the water and simply enjoying one another’s presence. They were a deeply devoted couple for almost 57 years. As in any marriage, they had a fun-loving banter and one of Maw’s favorite sayings was, “When I married Mr. Wright, I didn't know his first name was ‘Always’!” They perfectly complemented each other and shared a love for their kids, grandkids, and two special dogs: Minnie and Lillie. Most of all, they cared for each other with a steadfast love in sickness and in health, and all who knew them noticed that about Maw and Paw.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, George and Betty New, her siblings, Bertie Gandy, Florence Ridenour, Johnny New, George New, Arthur New, Dan New, and two great-granddaughters, Maddison Jones and Jazy Daniel.

She is survived by her husband, Bobby Wright, her children, Ellen (Doug) Mosley, Wayne (Tonya) Jones, Georgie (Dwayne) McGough, Charles (Kathy) Wright, and Bobby Lee Wright Jr, her grandchildren, Jeriami (Genesis) St. Clair, JoEllen (Nick) Gonzales, Josh (Amanda) Jones, Jacob (Brandi) Wright, Jessi (Stephen) Bolding, Jaymee (Cody) Moreton, Jessika Daniel (fiancé Casey Lester), Jon McGough, Stephen Wright, Chris (Emerald) McGinnis, and Jeremy Polich, and her great-grandchildren Gabriella Heredia, Caleb Heredia, Caedence Jones, Emery Jones, Quinn Jones, Samuel Jones, Ridley Wright, Rally Wright, Pax Jones, Jasper Jones Scrivener, Ember Bolding, Mason Bolding, Eric Bolding, Harper Moreton, Harrison Moreton, Cali Daniel, Jaxon Daniel, Makenzie (Jordyn) Prado, Chloe Bird, Aiden Wright, and Alec McGinnis. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, and many more who knew and loved her as “Maw-Maw.”

Martha was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Rotan. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 27 from 2-4 and her funeral service will be held Monday, July 28 at 1pm. Both visitation and funeral will be at Weathersbee Funeral Home Chapel in Rotan, Tx. Services will be officiated by Ryan Holmes. As Martha had a love for the colorful flowers found in God’s creation, we kindly ask that you wear bright colors to honor her.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Jeriami St. Clair, Josh Jones, Jacob Wright, Jon McGough, Cody Moreton, and Stephen Bolding.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Hendrick Hospice Care in Abilene, TX. She received very loving and gentle care there in her final days. Hendrick Hospice Care, 1651 Pine St. Abilene, TX, 79601.