New Albany, MS – Martha Emma Shannon, 86, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Union County.

She was born in Tippah County to Emma Lewellen Thurmond and Charlie Rooker Thurmond, Sr. She was a homemaker and a member of Cleveland Street ARP Church of New Albany. She was the widow of Dr. Paul K. Shannon.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, at Cleveland St. ARP Church with Elder Roger Browning officiating. Burial will be in New Albany City Cemetery. United Funeral Service of New Albany will be in charge of the arrangements.

She is survived by two sons, Paul Hampton Shannon of Ocean Springs, MS and John Thurmond Shannon (Christy) of New Albany; her grandchildren: Amy Emerson (Aaron) and Leah Shannon, both of Orlando, FL; Dr. Paul Jason Shannon (Marisa) of Ocean Springs, MS; and Ben Shannon of Oxford, MS: and her great grandchildren, Colin Emerson and Sophia Shannon.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Emerson, David Gadd, Mike Gadd, Keith Thurmond, Charlie Thurmond and Bart White. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Tommy Barkley, David Coleman, Dr. Jason Dees, J.L. Ledbetter, Delmer Watson and Dennis White.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, from 10 a.m. until noon at the funeral home and from 1 p.m. until service time at Cleveland Street ARP Church.

Memorials may be made in her honor to charity of donor’s choice.