Delma Jean Bowman Martin, age 86, of Lenoir, North Carolina passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Delma was born on January 4, 1939 in Caldwell County, NC to the late Fred and Eula Bowman.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers, Ned Bowman and Douglas Bowman; sister, Ruth Bolick; sisters-in-law, Mildred Bowman and Linda Bowman; brothers-in-law, Howard Bolick, and Wayne Sipe; and mother and father in-law, Ralph and Sadie Martin.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 70 years, Terry Martin; son, Christopher Lawson Martin and wife Heather; daughter, Alisa Martin Schauman and husband David; brother, Jerry Bowman and wife Sandi; and sisters, Ann Sipe and Alice Whisnant and husband James; grandchildren, Brittany Shehan and husband Josh, Sarah Martin, and Katie Martin; and great grandchildren, Levi Shehan, Sadie Shehan, Waylon Shehan, and Adilye Shehan.

Delma graduated from Oak Hill High School. She worked with Centel Telephone Company for 37 years. She also owned and ran her own catering company, Martin's Specialty Kitchen. Her happy place was in the kitchen serving others. Delma was always serving others in any capacity that she could. In her spare time, she also enjoyed visiting the beach.

Delma was a great athlete. She loved to play golf, even scoring a hole in one in a game. She also loved to play basketball, scoring 38 points in one game in high school. Delma was the Vice President of the Lefty Golf Association of the Carolinas for 20 years. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, she was also a wonderful singer. She sang at wedding and funeral events. Delma was a hard worker and a "doer". She was always busy doing something. If there was something to be done, she made sure it got done.

A funeral service to honor the life of Delma Martin will be held on Friday, December 26, 2025 at 2:00PM at Lower Creek Baptist Church with Reverend Tom McDonald officiating.

The family will receive visitors at the church one hour prior to the service from 1:00PM until 2:00PM.

Burial will follow the service at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to Lower Creek Baptist Church in Delma's honor.

Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.