Martha Dunn Kirkley

Martha was born in Florence, Alabama.  In 1954, her family moved to Columbus, Mississippi, where her parents built the first cable television system in the state.  Martha attended the University of Misssissippi, graduating in 1967 with a BA in English.

Martha left Mississippi and moved San Fransisco.  There, she worked in retailing and banking prior to attending graduate school at the University of Redlands in Redlands, California, where she earned her Masters degree in Counseling.  After graduating, Martha took a position as a Public Health Social Worker in Riverside and San Bernardino, CA, specializing in Adolescent Sexuality. 

Martha married Jim Kirkley and began operating two Baskin-Robbins stores; something she would continue to do over the next ten years.  While Jim was employed as a Deputy District Attorney, Martha worked in the Victim/Witness program in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office.  While living in CA, Martha helped found St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Upland and served on the vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.  She also volunteered her time to St. Mark’s Homeless Shelter in Upland.  Martha served as a member of the Foothill Philharmonic Association, a support group for the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.  She also directed the Symphonies for Youth Program in the Foothill community.

Martha returned to Columbus with her family in 1992.  She managed her family’s company, Columbus TV Cable Corporation, until the business was sold to the Washington Post Company in 1996.  In Columbus, Martha has served on the Heritage Academy School Board, as President of the Junior Auxillary of Columbus, and as a volunteer with Meals-on-Wheels.  She has also served on the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she teaches Sunday school and facilitates a spiritual growth group on Sunday evenings.  Martha is currently a member of the Columbus-Lowndes Foundation Board and the Region Six Board of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association.

Martha’s daughter, Lindsay, is a senior at Ole Miss.  Her son, James, lives and works in Oxford.  Martha’s stepdaughter, Shelly, is working on her PhD in Forensic Psychology at the University of Alabama, while her stepson, Peter, practices law in California.