BANNER ELK, NC (Boone) - Dr. Martha Ray Lumpkin died on October 18, 2011, at her home in Banner Elk, NC after a few years of declining health. She was born in Franklin County, NC on April 24, 1926 to the late Willie Lee Lumpkin & Margaret Ray Pollock. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret C. Lumpkin.  Dr. Lumpkin is survived by her devoted partner & companion of 20 years, Debbie Patterson, and her three brothers: Billy Lumpkin & his wife Peggy of Louisburg, NC; W. Lee Lumpkin III & wife Sally of Morehead City, NC; and J. Parker Lumpkin II & wife Lynda of Louisburg, NC; cousin Nelle Marston James of Orlando, FL.

Dr. Lumpkin attended Women’s College of Greensboro, NC (UNCG) from 1943-1947; UNC School of Medicine at Chapel Hill from 1947-1949; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine from 1949-1951; interned at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY in 1952; and did her residency at George Washington Univ. Hospital in Washington, DC from 1953-1955. She enjoyed a long and distinguished career in Private Practice for Internal Medicine & Cardiology in Arlington, VA from 1956-1992. During that time she was a member of the Arlington County Medical Society and served on the hospital staffs of the following hospitals: Arlington Hospital (Arlington, VA); Alexandria Hospital (Alexandria, VA); Fairfax Hospital (Fairfax, VA); Northern Virginia Doctors Hospital (Arlington, VA).  During her private practice, Dr. Lumpkin lived in Great Falls, VA. In 1992, she retired after devoting some 40 years of service to the medical field. This is a testament to the fact that women in the medical field can and often do give their entire lives to the medical profession.  In retirement, Dr. Lumpkin was a “snow-bird”—dividing her time between winters at her home in the Florida Keys and summers at her home in Banner Elk.

Private services were held by the family in Louisburg, NC and another at Franklinton, NC on November 9, 2011.  The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks for the many expressions of love and concern from friends far and wide, and special thanks to Hospice of Avery County.  Memorial gifts may be made to: Nittany Greyhounds (Rescue), 30 TLD Circle, Port Matilda, PA 16870; or Louisburg Baptist Church Neighbors Fund, P. O. Box 730, Louisburg, NC 27549.

Paid Obituary