Martha Lou Gibbs Bain

Martha Lou Gibbs Bain of Erwin TN peacefully passed on at her home on January 13, 2025, at 93 years old. She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, E. Elmer Bain Jr., who had passed on the year prior. We are grateful to know that she is once again with her beloved Elmer, who she missed greatly this last year.

Martha Lou was the only child of the late Martha Jane Gibbs and Hugh McCorry Gibbs, both of Jackson TN. Although life took her far from her birthplace, she was always proud to be from Jackson and of how her family’s roots extended throughout the last 200 years of Jackson’s history. She was grateful that she and Elmer were able to restore her old family home in their retirement and reconnect with family and friends in Jackson. Once the house was fully restored, they filled it with many happy memories of laughter while playing cards with dear friends and celebrating Christmas there with their children and grandchildren for many years. 

As a young child Martha Lou moved with her parents to Paducah KY, and she primarily grew up there. Martha Lou and Elmer met in Paducah while both were working at Union Carbide’s Gaseous Diffusion Plant, where she worked as a lab technician. They were married and had their first child, Melissa, in Paducah. Later in life, Martha Lou was pleased to receive the honorary titles of “Duchess of Paducah” and “Kentucky Colonel” bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

 After Martha Lou and Elmer moved to Erwin TN in 1958, their family grew. Both their son, Tom, and their daughter, Melinda, were born in Erwin. During this time Martha Lou also attended and graduated from East Tennessee State University with a BS in Biology and a minor in Library Science. Shortly afterwards she began working as a Case Worker for the past Tennessee Department of Welfare. She got to visit with diverse people from all over Unicoi County and often took Missy and Tom with her to enjoy the mountains. In 1971 Martha Lou and Elmer moved to Annandale VA, a suburb of Washington DC. They missed their extended family, though, and returned to Erwin in 1985. 

Martha Lou enjoyed being active in the Erwin community. During the early years that she lived in Erwin, Martha Lou was a member of the Civinettes and was elected their president in 1970. Upon her return to Erwin, she served on the Unicoi County Public Library Advisory Committee. She was proud and honored to be a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs for over 50 years. Specifically, the Monday Club in Erwin and a sister club in Paducah KY. She belonged to the 80-year-old Parnassus Book Club for several decades and thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie as well as the books. She joined the Erwin Presbyterian Church in 1960 and was a member for 65 years. She was grateful for the unconditional love and support from the Church family as she and Elmer raised their family.

Martha Lou is survived by her daughters, Melissa Lewis (Michael) of Erwin, and Melinda Bain (Matthew Stintz) of Centreville MD; her son, E. E. “Tom” Bain III of Erwin and Nashville; four grandchildren, Jessica Gallant (Jean-Nicolas) of Nashville, William Lewis (Robin) of Poolesville MD, Emily Stintz of Washington DC, and Molly Mae Bain of Erwin and Nashville; and four great-grandchildren, Brigitte, Arthur and Marie Gallant of Nashville, and Reed Lewis of Poolesville MD. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The burial will be on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 11am at Rocky Springs Cemetery in Jackson TN. 

There will be a Celebration of Life Service on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Erwin Presbyterian Church at 2pm. Visitation with the family will be held in the sanctuary from 1 to 2pm before the service, and lunch in the Fellowship Hall will be immediately following the service.  

Contributions may be made in memory of Martha Lou Bain to Erwin Presbyterian Church, 105 N. Elm Street, Erwin TN 37650.