Martha Gibson Weir

Martha Gibson Weir, 87, of 1741 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, died Sunday, March 31, 2002, at her home. Mrs. Weir was born in Buncombe County and was a daughter of the late Robert Marion Gibson and Hattie Glenn Gibson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Hal Mack Weir who died in 1991, and by two sisters, Evelyn Gibson and Eugenia Gibson, two brothers, Robert Gibson, Jr. and John Gibson, and by her foster parents, Margaret and Harry Nettles. Mrs. Weir was born, raised and lived her life on Hendersonville Road in South Buncombe County. She was a graduate of Biltmore High School, Asheville-Biltmore College, and the University of North Carolina - Greensboro (Woman’s College) and did graduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church for more than 50 years and was retired from the Buncombe County Department of Social Services as supervisor of children and families services. She was a former member of the North Carolina State Social Services Board. She and her husband Hal founded the Valley Springs Square Dance Team and she was a charter member and former Master, Overseer, and Treasurer of the Valley Springs Grange. She was instrumental in raising funds to maintain the Valley Springs Community Memorial Building and was former president of the Valley Springs PTA and the Buncombe County PTA Council. She was chairman of the Valley Springs Community Fair for several years and was instrumental in developing the Buncombe County Community Fair. She was a charter member and former president of the Buncombe County Democratic Women and was recipient of the “Democratic Woman of the Year” award. She was a member of the Buncombe County Democratic Men and member and former Regent of the Ruth Davidson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is survived by two daughters, Ann Weir Sizemore and her husband Edwin and Carol Weir Peterson and her husband Bruce; one grandson, Steven Weir Sizemore and his wife Jill; three great-grandchildren, Hannah Gibson Sizemore, Marshall Weir Sizemore, and Meredith Elise Sizemore; and a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Wednesday at Central United Methodist Church with the Rev. Carol Ploch and the Rev. Richard Ploch officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard, Fletcher. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Hoyle, Charlie Holleman, Clayton King, Robert Gibson, III, David Gantt, Elden Duncan, Weldon Weir, III, Bill Kindley and Dana Trytten. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801, or to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. Her family will be at the residence, 1741 Hendersonville Road. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.