SUMTER – Edith Elizabeth Cowins Martins, 95, widow of Percy Joseph Martins, died Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Brookdale Sumter.

Born November 3, 1927, in Hershey, PA, she was a daughter of the late Raymond Cowins and the late Annie May Sutcliffe Cowins. She graduated from Metuchen, NJ High School and earned her nursing degree at Mountainside Hospital School in Montclair, NJ. After getting married, she and Percy raised their family in Chatham, NY, before retiring to Manning.

She is survived by four children, Stephen Richard Martins (Marge), Thomas Scott Martins (Bertha), Jane Elizabeth Shaw and Daniel John Martins (Beth); four grandchildren, Robyn Martins, Brian Martins, Lauren Martins (Chris) and Caroline Shaw Schmidlapp (Lawrence); a great grandson, Ezekiel Martins; brother-in-law, Fred Blanchard; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jane Knigge and Barbara Blanchard; and her sister-in-law, Joyce Somers.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Clarendon Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Rick Atkinson officiating.

The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service.

Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church Street, Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org