Martha Bernice (Calhoun) Whaley, 95, of Mount Pleasant peacefully passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at her home surrounded by family.
Martha was born on December 3, 1930, the daughter of Victor and Mary (Manning) Calhoun. Martha was united in marriage to Donald E. Whaley on November 12, 1948, in Mount Pleasant. They celebrated 68 beautiful years of marriage before his death on February 11, 2017.
Don and Martha moved to Oakland Mills in 1964 to raise their family of 4 children. Martha decided to open the Oakland Mills Store next to their home to help support her family and still be able to be present for her children. She was very well known for selling her homemade tenderloins and the best homemade fish doughball to catch the biggest carp.
Martha and Don together spent many years supporting the Oakland Mills community. They were active members of the Oakland Mills Church and as a couple they were involved in the AWANA youth program, supporting the group meetings as leaders and as teachers. They would always make sure the children were able to attend AWANA events.
Martha and Don enjoyed traveling the country hunting treasures!! They both enjoyed buying antiques, keeping some and selling some. They would come home in their greyhound bus full of treasures to share with all. Lions were Martha’s favorite, as you can see from the two majestic animals standing at the entrance to her home representing her faith in Jesus Christ.
Martha contributed to many community projects throughout her life and would open her door to all. She was a servant of the Lord, a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and a great grandmother. Martha loved her entire family and friends and was so loved by all.
Those thankful for sharing in her life include her children, Donnie (Sally) Whaley of Coralville, John (Kim Bennett) Whaley of Cedar Bluff, Alabama, Debra Lamm of Mount Pleasant and Lynn (Lori) Whaley of Mount Pleasant, her thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren and her sister-in-law, Marilyn Calhoun.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Mary Calhoun, her husband, Donald, her two brothers, Victor Calhoun and Bill (Naoma) Calhoun and her son-in-law, Robert Lamm.
A celebration of Martha’s life will be held on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Mills Community Church with Pastor Rick Moorman officiating. Burial will follow on the hill at Oakland Mills Cemetery. Following the burial there will be a time of food and fellowship back at the church. Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 6 p.m. that evening. Memorials may be directed to the Oakland Mills Community Church or the Oakland Mills Cemetery in her memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com
The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Martha.