Martha Jane Peeples Avery was born May 21, 1927, in Memphis, Tennessee, to the late John Dorsey Peeples, Sr. and Martha Ingram Peeples and died at age 93 on February 24, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee, after a brief illness.

She attended Snowden Elementary School and graduated from Central High School in Memphis after which she attended The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Southwestern at Memphis. She was an avid student of history and was deeply involved in tracing the genealogy of the Peeples and Ingram family lines. She was also a longtime member of the Hermitage Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Martha Jane was a devout Christian and a member of First Presbyterian and First Evangelical Churches in Memphis. After moving to Nashville in 2002, she joined Covenant Presbyterian, and from 2016 until her death was a member of Stephens Valley Church in Bellevue. Her children affirm that she raised them reading the Bible, praying together, and regularly attending church, doing what she could to provide a solid foundation for them in the Christian faith in preparation for their choices as adults.

Martha Jane was preceded in death by her parents, John Dorsey and Martha Ingram Peeples, and by her brother John Dorsey Peeples, Jr. She is survived by her loving children Pamela Rosamond Avery Murphy (Jesse B.) of Samburg, TN; James Kelley Avery, Jr. (Glenda) of Bartlett, TN; John Buchanan Avery III (Sarah) of Nashville, TN; her grandchildren; James Kelley (Jake) Avery III (Augusta), Jessica Avery Murphy, Kelley Jo Murphy; her great grandson Nathaniel James Avery (parents Jake and Augusta); Her niece Sarah Peeples Hodges, and her nephews John Dorsey Peeples III, Clayton Ingram Peeples, and David Hale Peeples.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday February 27, 2021, at Stephens Valley Church, 6000 Pasquo Road, Nashville, TN 37221. A graveside service will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 1, 2021, at 1:00p.m. Prior to the graveside service there will be a visitation at 10:30am at Open Door Bible Church at 1792 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stephens Valley Church Building Fund.

KJV, Eph 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.