Irene Breland Martin, lifelong resident of Warren County born July 17, 1927, passed away quietly Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at her daughter’s home in Christiana, Tenn., at the age of 83.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend of 59 years, James C. “Joe” Martin; her loving son, James M. “Mitch” Martin Sr.; her parents, William W. and Mattie Owsley Breland; her brothers, Will Breland Jr. and wife Dorothy Hall Breland and Hillary I. “H.I.” Breland and wife Irenna Whatley Breland; her sister, Mary Belle Dillon; and dear friends and fishing companions, Herman and Chestine Schneider.

She is survived and will be dearly missed by her loving daughter, Beth Martin Britt of Christiana; daughter-in-law, Barbara Parker Martin of Redwood; her adored grandchildren, Tammy Martin and husband Glen of Plain Dealing, La., Christopher Miller of Birmingham, Ala., Toni Neumann and husband David of Redwood, Robyn Miller Atkinson and husband Bradley of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Mitch Martin Jr. and wife Shann of Redwood; and her six precious great-grandchildren, Brianna, Alainna and Rachel Neumann, Calvin Martin and Reagan and Tyler Atkinson.

Mrs. Martin graduated with honors as valedictorian from Redwood High School in 1946. She was a member of Redwood United Methodist Church. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and loyal friend. She was a substitute teacher for Redwood School and a kindergarten teacher for both the Vicksburg Ladies Junior Auxiliary and Porters Chapel Academy. She enjoyed fishing, gardening and sports.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Riles Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronnie O’Quin officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers are Chris Miller, Mitch Martin Jr., David Neumann, Bradley Atkinson, Glen Larson, Richard Martin and Chuck Schneider.

Honorary pallbearers are Larry Martin, Frank Keen, Wade Hammack, Billy Schneider, Charles Hanks, James “Sonny” Keen, Kenny Wells and Physician Kerry Kane and her staff of Murfreesboro.

Memorials may be made to Redwood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 26, Redwood, MS 39156 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.