11/16/2025
Martha Pickens May, 71, of Center, passed away Saturday, November 15, 2025, in Tatum, TX.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Charles Nicholas Conner will officiate.
Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.
Born March 24, 1954, in Center, Martha is the daughter of Homer Leon Pickens, Sr. and Joyce Edge Pickens. Martha was a beloved mother, nana, wife, sister, and friend. She was born and raised in Center, and it remained the heart of her world throughout her 51½-year marriage to her devoted husband, Sammy. Surrounded by her loving family, Martha left this world after a courageous battle with cancer, finding her final peace.
Martha was the heart and soul of her family. Her love for Sammy was a once-in-a-lifetime bond, a true partnership where each cared for the other above all. She was a loving mother to her sons. She shared a daily "goodnight" call with her son Joey, a ritual that spoke to a deep, abiding friendship. They spent every moment they could together and cherished every second. She carried immense pride for her son, Cody, and all he accomplished, holding him forever in her heart. As a sister, she was a loyal protector and a constant, listening presence. Her role as "Nana" was her greatest joy, and her grandchildren were the light of her life. The love she had for her nieces and nephews was as great as any mother’s love for their child.
She lived every day with purpose and love. Martha never forgot a birthday, and no occasion passed without a card in the mail—a small testament to her thoughtful and caring nature. She was famous among her many nieces and nephews for her grilled cheese sandwiches, sliced dill pickles, and chocolate milk made with a generosity that mirrored her spirit. An admirer of Dolly Parton, Martha embodied that same kindness and strength. Martha found joy in simple things like butterflies, magnolias, and Margaritas from Margaritas on the Square in Center she’d occasionally enjoy with family or friends. She leaves behind a legacy of resilience and unconditional love carried on by her heartbroken husband, Sammy; her children; her daughters-in-law, her grandchildren; her siblings; and countless nieces, nephews, and friends.
As her beloved Dolly Parton once said, “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” Martha faced the storms of life with incredible strength, and her memory is the beautiful rainbow she leaves for us all.
She is survived by:
Husband, Sammy May of Center
Children:
Bret Burkhart of Austin
Joey May and wife Jennifer of Tatum
Stepsons:
Sammy Howard May, Jr. and wife Michelle of Pearland
Archer Bryan May and wife Marcy of Buda
Grandchildren:
Albert Burkart
Reagan May
Jayla May
Elijah May
Zoe May
Josiah May
Justus May
Isaiah May
Eden May
Shiloh May
Brothers and sisters:
Travis Quinn and wife Kathy of Clute
Jack Quinn and wife Lawanna of Crockett
Hazel Gamble of Logansport, Louisiana
Judy Conner of Decatur
David Adams of Alto
Jesse Adams and wife Darla of Flint
Preceded in death by son, Cody May; parents, Homer Leon Pickens, Sr. and Joyce Edge Pickens Adams; sister, Carolyn “Sissy” Ratcliff; and stepfather, Joe Ward Adams.
Pallbearers will be Michael Hooks, Sammy “Howard” May Jr., Hunter Hooks, Johnnie Gamble, Bryan May, William Gamble, and Josiah Conner.
Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com
