CHARLOTTE, NC ~ Mrs. Martha Lee Hedgepeth Welch, age 84, passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at Presbyterian Main Hospice. She was born September 13, 1936 in Hamlet, NC, a daughter of the late Lee Roy Hedgepeth and Edith Kelly Hedgepeth and was the wife of Billy Welch.  Mrs. Welch received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina.  She lived in Lancaster for many years and was the secretary for First Baptist Church for over 20 years. Her life revolved around her work at church.  She was a member of First Baptist Church in Lancaster where she was very involved in Missions, was a Sunday School Teacher, GA teacher, WMU member, a Deacon, and was on the Pastor Search Committee.  Mrs. Welch enjoyed any kind of crafts, including painting, crocheting, cross stitching and needlepoint.  She loved to go to the beach and look for shells.  Mrs. Welch, her sister, and her daughter had a business where they decorated the seashells for any occasion.

Mrs. Welch is survived by her husband of 68 years, Billy Welch; her son, Charles Welch (Lynn); her daughter, LeAnne Welch; four grandchildren, Lee Welch, Caroline Dalton, Wyatt Plyler, and Brad Plyler; two great grandchildren, Deuce Dalton, and Gloria Dalton; two brothers, Jimmy Hedgepeth (Barbara), and Linwood Hedgepeth (Judy); a sister, Julia Davis (Jimmy); a brother-in-law, Levy Welch; two sisters-in-law, Sara Hedgepeth and Frances Taylor; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Harold Hedgepeth, and Merle Hedgepeth; a sister, Rosalyn Smith; two brothers-in-law, Robert Smith, and Buck Taylor; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Welch.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Welch will be 1:00 pm Saturday, February 20, 2021 at First Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Randy Hatcher.  Burial will follow in the church Prayer Garden.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Attn: Memorial Department, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.