Martha A. Rockett

ELKHART — Martha A. “Mama” Rockett, 99, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Elkhart General Hospital on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018.

She was born Dec. 29, 1918, in Calhoun, Mississippi, to the late Porter and Minnie (Shaw) Bounds.

She was preceded by her husband of 59 years, James Rockett, whom she married Sept. 9, 1939; he passed March 3, 1999. 

A daughter, Loretha Harris, also preceded her in death, as well as five sisters and four brothers.

Surviving are her sons, James (Karen), William (Mary), Willie (Thelma), Chester (Dottie), Elmo (Judy) and Terry Rockett; daughters Doris (Rochali) Newbill and Derotha “Doe” Pritchard; sister Mary Bounds; and a multitude of loving grand-, great- and great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Mama’s life will be celebrated at Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart during a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, with visitation beginning at noon. 

Pastor Danny Brown of the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Elkhart will officiate, and burial will follow at a later date in Michigan. 

Cremation has taken place.

Mama worked for many years in housekeeping at the Cass County Medical Care Facility. 

She was a devout member of Pilgrim Rest and sat on the Mother’s Board there as well. 

She was a gifted cook and while it was said that she could make soup out of just about anything and make it taste wonderful, her peach cobbler and pound cakes seemed to disappear faster than she could make them. 

She also loved to sew, tend to her flower garden and spend time visiting with friends, family and her beloved grands.

Memorials may be given to the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Elkhart.

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