Martha Griffin Gunter, 85, after a long and courageous battle with dementia, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.  She was the daughter of Clyde and Viola Carpenter Griffin.  Born at her grandparent's house on Griffin Road in Forest City, Martha grew up and graduated from R-S Central High School in the class of 1958.  She later received a Bachelor’s Degree from Pfeiffer College, and a Master’s Degree from Western Carolina University.

Martha's career led her away from Rutherford County, where she worked in Christian education and music at churches in Haywood and Buncombe Counties.  Later she settled in Hendersonville, where she became one of the first North Carolina Juvenile Court Counselors.  This job became her passion, and she excelled at it.  She was an authority on Juvenile Law, and was highly respected by her peers and Juvenile Court officials.  She retired from her position in 2001.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, and her first husband, Dennie Enevold.  Dennie was a Hendersonville Police Officer, who was killed in the line of duty only nine months after he and Martha were married.

She is survived by her husband, Terry Gunter; sister, Barbara Thompson; nieces, Vicki Fox (Luke), and Audra Thompson; nephew, Anthony Thompson (Julie); grand-nieces Haley Mullen (Hunter) and Aubrey Thompson (Eddie); and grand-nephew Kaleb Thompson (Maggie); great-grand-nieces Eva Grace and Iva Maria Jimenez.

In retirement, Martha and her husband, Terry, traveled all over the country with their RV.  They visited 49 states and every Canadian province.  Martha loved Bluegrass music and attended numerous festivals each year.  One of Martha's passions in retirement became researching family history and visiting all the encampments and battle fields where her ancestors had been stationed or fought in the Civil War.

The family wishes to recognize and thank the staff at the Four Season Hospice Elizabeth House in Flat Rock for the outstanding care and kindness Martha received during her final days there.

Martha's funeral service will be held at the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church on Hudlow Road at 2 o'clock on Saturday, December 13,2025 with the Reverend Keys Pendleton officiating.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church from 1 until 2 o'clock prior to the service.

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