Martha Norville Elmore, age 85 of Forest City died Friday, July 11, 2025, at Hospice House in Forest City. 

Martha was born on January 14, 1940, in Rutherford County and was a daughter of the late Virgil and Beulah Kimbrell Norville. 

She was a graduate of R-S Central High School in the Class of 1958 and from Cecil’s Business College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.   Martha worked as a bookkeeper for many years, first for Morrow Motors and later with her husband at Elmore’s Auto Sales where she retired. 

Martha was a member of Sandy Mush Baptist Church but in recent years had been attending Crestview Baptist Church.  Her family was the center of her life, and she was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant sister, Shirley Norville, and her brothers, Alfred Norville and Sherrill “Doc” Norville.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Tommy Elmore of the home, her daughters, Gina Elmore of Hillsborough, and Jill Elmore Bailey and husband Scott, and her granddaughter, Hope Bailey all of Forest City, and her sister, Nancy Norville Harrill and husband David of Rutherfordton.

The funeral service will be held at 2 o’clock on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in The Padgett and King Chapel with the Reverend Kevin Rohm officiating.  Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 o’clock prior to the service at the mortuary.

Memorials in her memory may be made to Hospice of The Carolina Foothills, Post Office Box 336, Forest City, North Carolina.

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com