Martha Christine Wade Aenchbacher, 94, of Savannah passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2024. She was born in Russell Springs, Kentucky on March 14, 1930, to Cephas Grant Wade, Sr. and Edna Luttrell Wade.

She graduated from Boston High School in Boston, Georgia, and then attended Georgia Southwestern College at age 16. While there, she met her husband Louis, a World War II Veteran, and together they had seven children. Martha continued her education in Savannah, Georgia, at Armstrong State College in 1974, earning a degree in social work. She later obtained her master’s degree in psychology in 1977 from Georgia Southern University. Her employment history in Savannah began at Memorial Medical Center as a unit clerk and doing “social” work in the nursing home on site at the time. She later maintained a private counseling practice. She continued to do student counseling at SCAD and then later in Montezuma, Georgia, following her move there. Martha was a loving and beloved sibling, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and her talents, insightfulness, creativity, and strengths were shared and appreciated by many. She was a talented seamstress, cook/baker, artist/painter, and enjoyed playing the piano. One of the more important focuses in Martha’s life was in working with others on the causes of women’s rights and social justice. As a member of a group of pioneering women and men in Savannah, she helped to establish the first Rape Crisis Center in Georgia and worked with them as well to establish what later became the first hospice in Georgia. These colleagues and friends remained important to her throughout the years. Some organizations she was a member of included National Organization of Women, Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO Chapter AT), and American Business Women’s Association. Martha was a member of Wesley Oak Church, Thunderbolt, Georgia.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents, Cephas G. Wade, and Edna L. Wade, and her stepmother, Hazel Ellen Wade. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Louis Earl Aenchbacher. She is also preceded in death by her daughter Susan Lea Aenchbacher, her brother, Cephas Grant Wade, Jr., and son in law, Dr. Lonnie D. Harvel. She is survived by her brother, Dr. John S. Wade, of Buckhead, Georgia, sister, Margaret W. and husband, Reverend Charles Carter, of Ellijay, Georgia. Her son and daughter in law, Dr. Louis (Eddie) III, and Michele Aenchbacher. Daughters and sons in law, Christine A. and David Heldreth, Margaret A. and Tim Callaway JD, Reverend Lynn A. and Jim Drake, JD, Jennifer A. Magee, Reverend Martha L. Aencbacher, and son in law, Ken Donahue, JD. Twelve Grandchildren, Justin Callaway, Daniel Lea Callaway, Lauren Harper, Christopher Chatham, William Chatham, Julia Christine Drake, Martha Emily Harvel, Samantha Lea Harvel, Michael Louis Donahue, Rachel Lynn Donahue, Jesse Louis Aenchbacher,and Lainey Elizabeth Aenchbacher. Three Great Grandchildren, Tyler Callaway, Braden Callaway, and Cyrus Shayan Drake. A multitude of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews and their children.

A Memorial Celebration will be held on a later date. In memory of Martha Wade Aenchbacher please consider contributions to the Martha W. and Louis E. Aenchbacher Scholarship in Education, Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc., Post Office Box 1107, Statesboro, Georgia 30459.