Carol Welch Martin died at the age of 85 on August 15, 2026.

She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Dec. 26, 1940, to Basil and Ruth Welch. She is survived by her daughters, Emily Martin and Jeanne Alley, her son-in-law Reggie Alley, her grandchildren, Eleanor and Carter Alley, and many beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband David Joseph Martin.

Carol had a lifelong passion for Christian education and always remained teachable and willing to change with the times. She attended Red Bank Elementary, Dickinson Junior High, Chattanooga High School, and The University of Chattanooga, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She loved her church family at Red Bank Baptist and the Baptist Student Union, where she met her husband David. She taught in Head Start and Oak Grove Elementary until she had children and then devoted herself to church and family life as a homemaker.

To say that she was devoted to contributing to the work of First Baptist of Chattanooga is an understatement! She sang in the choir and a trio, taught fifth and sixth grade Sunday School, led the Women’s Missionary Union, and was one of the first women to be elected as a deacon. She was excited to be part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship when it was created in the early 1990s.

She taught her children and grandchildren a love of learning about the natural world, playing the piano, reading the Bible, praying, and making art. She was known to spend hours in museums, especially art museums, reading every word about every painting, and for bursting into song or poem for any occasion. She will be remembered for the depth of her spiritual life, her enthusiasm for holidays, and her love of the color red!

Carol’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 29, with visitation at 10 a.m. and funeral at 11 a.m., officiated by Dr. Thomas Quisenberry at First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, 401 Gateway Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37402.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to First Baptist Church of Chattanooga (fbcchattanooga.org), or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Carol’s family is forever grateful to her caregivers at Alexian on Signal Mountain.

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com