Martha Rhea Cunningham Quarles -- Tailor

 

Martha Rhea Cunningham Quarles

Martha Rhea Cunningham was born on April 28, 1934 near a big spring on Beechy Fork Creek in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the fifth of six children of George Clyde Cunningham and Robbie Bell Bridges Cunningham. Clyde was a farmer and both he and Robbie were natives of Trigg County.  Martha was a descendant of Cullen Bridges, Cullen Thomas and Starkie Bridges. 

Martha's siblings were Aubrey Hershell Cunningham, born in 1923 and married Anna Josephine Calhoun and later married Velina Guess England; Albert Dale Cunningham, born in 1925 and died in World War II; Alfred Leslie Cunningham, born in 1927 and married Joe Hazel Bush; Dolly Mae Cunningham, born in 1930 and married William Ray Stokes and later married Thomas Davis Rawlins; and Mava Dale Cunningham, born in 1946 and married Paul Raymond Brown.

Martha grew up attending the country schools in Trigg County.  When she was a young girl, she acquired the nickname of “Cricket” because as her grandfather noted, she was always hopping and jumping around and never seemed to sit still.  She was known by the “Cricket” nickname into her adult life.  One of her first jobs was to work at the Hopkinsville Shoe Factory in Hopkinsville, Kentucky  It was there she met a fellow worker who would become her husband.

On April 18, 1953, Martha married Charles Robert Quarles in Springfield, Tennessee.  Robert was born on October 21, 1925 in Christian County, Kentucky.  He was the son of Ewing Burton Quarles and Cora Eunice Mayes Quarles.  Ewing was a farmer and a laborer and was a native of Gainsboro, Tennessee.  Cora was a native of Robertson County, Tennessee.

Charles was a veteran of World War II.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 26, 1944 and spent eighteen months serving on sea duty in the Pacific Ocean.  He was honorably discharged from the service on July 5, 1946.

Martha and Charles lived in Hopkinsville where Martha was employed as a tailor in furs and leather.  This was a trade that been handed down from her ancestors.  Martha spent most of her time raising her four children.   Charles worked as a machinist and in his retirement years worked as a greeter at Walmart.

Martha and Charles were the parents of four children, Timothy Dwain Quarles, born in 1954 and married Eugenia McGaugh Neves, and then married Gail E. Grossman and then married Mary Erickson; Stanley Robert Quarles, born in 1958 and married Sherry L. Henderson and then married Linda Lee Dunlap Carlton; Kathy Dianne Quarles, born in 1959 and married Peter Joseph Uzelac and then married Jeffery Mitchell Rogers; and Mark Anthony Quarles, born in 1963 and married Valorie Jane Storer.

Charles died on January 22, 2008 at the age of 82 at the Christian Health Center in Hopkinsville.  He was buried in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.  Martha died on May 8, 2021 at the age of 87.  She was buried in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.

Charles Quarles

 

Martha tombstone

 

 

Charles tombstone

LINEAGE:  (Martha Rhea Cunningham was the daughter of George Clyde and Robbie Bell Bridges Cunningham.  George Clyde was the third child of Elmer Elsworth “Ell” and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham.  Rosa Lee was the seventh child of Cullen T. and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Robbie Bell was the second child of Drew Manley and Lena Mae Guier Bridges.  Drew Manley was the seventh child of Starkie T. and Elizabeth Lawrence Bridges.  Starkie was the second child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Martha Ann was the third child of Peyton and Sarah Ethridge Thomas.  Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas.  Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)