Ms. Martha Diane Lackey died Dec. 4. She was known as "Big D" to many of her family and close friends. The daughter of Mr. Howard and Mrs. Maggie Mae Lackey, she was born in 1947. A graduate of R.L. Cousins High School in 1965, Ms. Lackey worked at BellSouth for 20 years. Later, she was certified as a CN and worked at Riverside Nursing Home for 12 years. She joined Macedonia Baptist Church at a young age. She later explored other denominations but always had her faith in one true God. Ms. Lackey loved cooking (especially Sunday family dinner) sewing, reading and word searches, her main passion. Even though she had only one child, she raised her nieces and nephews as her own. The youngest of her sisters, she wanted to be treated as the oldest. Preceding her in death are brothers Mr. Willie Lee Lackey, Mr. Ulysses Lackey, Mr. Eugene Lackey and Mr. Clifford Lackey and sisters Ms. Mary Lackey Terrell, Ms. Mattie Bell Lackey Jeffries and Ms. Mildred Lackey.

Surviving are son Mr. Stanley Bernard Lackey; sisters Ms. Rosa Mae Brown of Boston, Mass.; Ms. Annie Lackey of New York, N.Y.; Ms. Lucille Brinkley, Madison; brother Mr. and Mrs. James (Essie Kate) Lackey; grandchildren Chyna Lackey and Destiny Martin; sister-in-law Mrs. Mary Lackey of Covington; special nieces Maxine Gaither; loyal friend Ms. Net Gaither; other special nieces Mrs. Vivian Moody, Ms. Tikisha Robinson and Mrs. Sherrika McKay; a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held on Dec. 8, at Faith of Jesus Ministries Church with Minister Vernon Bell and the Rev. Gerald Terrell officiating. Interment followed at Lackey's Cemetery.