Martha Chasteen Walsh

Published 11:36 am Wednesday, February 12, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Martha Chasteen Ward Walsh, Kinards, South Carolina, on Feb. 9, 2025. She was born Aug. 21, 1938, in Butler, Tenn., to the late Frank J. Ward and Hildra Heaton Ward. Her friends and family knew her as Teen or Mamaw.

Teen moved to South Carolina in 1976. She was raised in the Appalachian area of eastern Tennessee and always considered it to be “home” no matter where she lived.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lee G. Walsh; her son, Timothy Lee Walsh; sisters Juanita Montgomery, Louise Potter and Hellen Huffman; and brothers Roy Ward and Bill Ward.

She is survived by her sister, Mildred Winters; her daughters, Teresa Walsh, Donna Smith (Bryan) and Jeanie Chaffee (Bryan); her grandchildren, Stephanie Sutton, Kristen Bunn, Katie Olsen, Ashley Chaffee and Drew Smith; as well as her five great-grandchildren and her niece, Darlene (Winters) Constantine.

Teen had developed many talents over her lifetime. A skilled seamstress and avid quilter, she also loved working outside and being among nature. Her gardening talents, whether growing vegetables, houseplants or flowers, were known by many. She greatly enjoyed sharing her bounty with all those in her life.

Teen easily befriended people from all walks of life and cared for others as her own family. She was the epitome of compassion. As her children were growing up, there was never a hungry child in the neighborhood if she could help it. She fed any child her children brought home if they were hungry and nursed their wounds from playing free-heartedly in the neighborhood.

Teen nurtured and participated in many extended family gatherings, as she and her siblings wanted to remain close and be in each other’s lives.

Teen was a member of the Red Hat Ladies, Hardee’s senior breakfast club and, most importantly, Bush River Baptist Church in Kinards, S.C.

When her grandchildren began arriving, there was never a happier Mamaw. She loved all her grandchildren and took an active role in nurturing and loving every single one of them.

Teen will be lovingly remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, along with stories of the pranks and good-humored mischief she participated in during her lifetime.

To know Teen was to love her. Her presence and laughter in this world will be greatly missed by all those who loved her. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren and loved ones.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at Memorial Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Walsh Cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends.

Donations may be made to Bush River Baptist Church in Ms. Walsh’s memory. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Walsh family.