Martha Elizabeth Callis, age 102, of Gloucester, died Thursday evening, Nov. 24, 2011.

Born Sept. 14, 1909 in Mathews County, she was the daughter of Capt. Thomas O. and Carrie E. Rainier.

Also preceding her in death were her husband, Capt. Herbert E. Callis, and a sister, Rhoda V. Sutton and husband Sherwood E. Sutton of Dutton.

She is survived by her daughter, Joan C. Marble and husband Robert L. Marble of Gloucester.

She resided most of her life in Mathews before moving to Gloucester in 1980. She was the oldest member of Newington Baptist Church, Gloucester, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years.

With both her father and husband serving many years as officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine, she enjoyed the opportunity to travel extensively aboard ships under their command. Her first trip abroad was as a teenager, visiting South America with her father. Following World War II, she traveled around the world with her husband and made numerous visits to Japan, Egypt, the Philippines, Kuwait, Bahrain and other areas of the Persian Gulf.

A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Newington Church, officiated by the Rev. Mike Gray, her pastor, and the Rev. R. Franklin Gillis Jr., a nephew of Midlothian. Burial followed in the H.C. Smither Memorial Cemetery at Hudgins. The family received friends from 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday at Andrews Funeral Home, Gloucester.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Newington Baptist Church, 6169 Main Street, Gloucester, Va. 23061, or Gloucester Volunteer Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 1417, Gloucester, Va. 23061.

The family expresses heartfelt appreciation to the staffs of Gloucester House Assisted Living and Riverside Walter Reed Hospice for their care and many acts of kindness and support.