Anna Van Maren

July 1, 1934 - April 26, 2017

Anna Nelson Martin Van Maren, age 82, a resident of Columbia, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at her residence.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 29th at 11 AM at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church with Rev. John Harris, Rev. Bob Vassar, and Rev. Rush Harrison officiating.  Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens.  The family will visit with friends on Friday from 4-8 PM at the church.  Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Anna was born July 1, 1934 in Martin, Tennessee and was the daughter of the late Marvin Nelson and late Clara Starkey Nelson.  She married James C. Martin on December 19, 1953.  He preceded her in death on October 25, 1975.  She married Edward A. Van Maren on November 6, 1993.  She was a retired secretary for the State of Tennessee, Division of Rehabilitation.  She was a member of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, where she served as the church librarian for forty years.  Prior to that, she was a librarian for the Eaton Rapids Baptist Church in Eaton Rapids, Michigan for ten years.  She loved cross stitching and working cross word puzzles.

Along with her husband, Edward Van Maren, Anna is survived by her daughters: LaDonna (Michael) Hamm of Palmyra, TN, and LaWanda (Mickey) Cain of Murfreesboro, TN; sons: Douglas Martin of Culleoka, TN, Dwight Martin of Columbia, and Marvin (Melody) Martin of Columbia; step sons: Edward Jr. (Holly) Van Maren of Ypsilanti, MI, Michael Van Maren of Ypsilanti, MI , and David (Bridget) Van Maren of Kingsley, MI; brother: Robert Nelson of Lansing, MI; fourteen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Along with her parents and first husband, Anna is preceded in death by her son: Michael Martin; grandsons: Curtis Martin and Jonathan Blackburn; and brother: Jim Nelson.

Pallbearers will be Danny Nelson, David Van Maren, James Cole, Stacey Hutchison, Marty Martin, Daniel Hutchison, Kerry Nelson, and Cory Martin.  Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, members of the Columbia Civitan Club, and the Maury Regional Volunteer Drivers.

The family requests memorial donations to be made to Pleasant Heights Baptist Church library or The Children’s Ministry.