Gail Ann (Kendrick) Martin

In Loving Memory of Gail Ann Kendrick Martin
November 5, 1946 – May 25, 2025

Gail Ann Kendrick Martin, age 78, a devoted nurse, beloved mentor, and cherished family matriarch, passed away peacefully in the home she loved in Crumpler, NC on Sunday, May 25, 2025. 

Born on November 5, 1946 in Tampa, Florida to the late Warren and Kathryn Soule Kendrick, Gail grew up in Florida alongside her younger brother, Mike.  Throughout her childhood, she adopted and nurtured many homeless animals including cats, dozens of kittens, rabbits, and her beloved iguana. 

After graduating from Palm Beach Junior College in 1968, Gail began her nursing career at Infants and Children P.A. for Pediatrician Dr. Charles Edwards in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.  She married the love of her life, Patrick Martin. Together, they had three children—Kelly, Christopher, and Kate. 

After many years of vacationing in the mountains of North Carolina, the Martin family made Ashe County their permanent home in 1988. Gail’s home in the mountains became her sanctuary—a place of peace and deep personal comfort, adorned with family photos and precious mementos collected throughout her life.  

In Ashe, she found her true calling as a labor and delivery nurse at Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, NC, where she spent the latter half of her career.  Her commitment to her work was unmatched—Gail rarely missed a shift at Ashe Memorial. Even in the harshest winter weather, she was known to park at the end of her half-mile driveway and walk to and from her car just to get to the hospital.  She even got a ride to work from the National Guard during the snowstorm of 1993.  Gail was not only a skilled and dedicated nurse but also a mentor to many young professionals. Affectionately known as “Nurse Ratchet” or “Mother Martin,” she guided countless nurses with her wisdom and experience, quick wit, and maternal leadership.

Gail had a deep appreciation for the simple joys of life. She loved buying flowers and herbs, savoring a hot cup of tea with a slice of English toasting bread slathered thick with butter, and watching her favorite BritBox shows or a football game. She was a collector of books, teapots and teacups, recipes, and stories.  She was a gifted cook and the heart of every family gathering. Her signature dishes—potato salad, pumpkin chiffon pie, lemon cheesecake, and apple crumble pie—are legendary in the family and will never quite be replicated.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Kathryn Kendrick, and her eldest daughter, Kelly Martin McNeil. She is survived by her brother Mike Kendrick and wife Marta of Vero Beach, Florida; her son Christopher Martin and companion Patricia Calloway of West Jefferson, NC; her daughter-in-law Trina Martin of Piney Creek, NC; and her youngest daughter Kate Heriot and husband Russell of Clemmons, NC. She is also survived by five grandchildren—Tyler Patrick, Shelby Patrick, Jezik Martin, Madison Heriot, and Warren Heriot—and one great-grandchild, Abby Patrick-Davis. A number of nieces and nephews also survive her.

Gail leaves behind a circle of special friends who were like family: Sheila Lyall, Debbie Stivers, Joyce Leslie, Mary Jane Hamilton, Sue Hampton, and many more. 

Gail will be remembered for her fierce love, sharp wit, and the countless lives she touched.  She is unforgettable, and her legacy lives on in her family, her friends, and the many nurses she mentored throughout her remarkable career.

At her request, family and friends will gather on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 1:00 pm at New River State Park – Elk Shoals Access Chapel to enjoy food, fellowship, and stories of Gail’s life well-lived. 

Thomas Family Funeral Service is assisting the family, and online condolences can be made at www.thomasfamilyfs.com

In lieu of food and flowers, memorials can be made to Ashe Memorial Hospital Foundation (becky.pearson@ashememorial.org) or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org). 

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