Martha Jane Earnhardt, 78, of Blythewood, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Born in Rowan County, NC on July 10, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Robert Lee and Lucille Upright Wilhelm. She was a member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Blythewood where she served on the church council. Martha was a loving, compassionate, caring, hardworking person and was everybody's "Memaw."

Survivors include her sons, Ricky (Myra) Earnhardt, Perry (Luanne) Earnhardt; daughter, Dawn (Danny) Earnhardt; sisters, Louise (Bill) Cates, Brenda Goodman, and Judy Poteat; a brother, Leonard (Colleen) Wilhelm; grandchildren, Paul (Leigh) Cotton, Robby (Gina) Cotton, Timmy (Shannon) Cotton, Kenneth (Nicole) Martin, Vanesa (Steve) Aten, Stacy (Lyle) Aten, April (Alvin) Smith, Eddie Dial; as well as 18 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Earnhardt; daughter, Sharon Cotton; sister, Phyllis Wilhelm; brother, Bob Wilhelm; and two great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Mrs. Earnhardt will be held at 2 o'clock, Monday, January 5th at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church with The Rev. Seth Gibson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3 until 5 o'clock, Sunday afternoon at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 1729 Blythewood Road, Blythewood, SC 29016.