Martha Kline

Martha Louis Jessup Kline, age 93 formerly of Brentwood Drive in Newton, died peacefully at Catawba Regional Hospice Sunday April 20, 2014. For the past two years she lived at Trinity Village, the former Lutheran Home on Springs Road, Hickory, NC. Born in Newton, December 11, 1920 she was the daughter of the late Claude and Maude Jessup. Mrs. Kline attended Newton Schools and Greensboro Women?s College majoring in music and voice. After graduation, she joined the faculty of Gardner Webb College where she taught voice, directed the choir and coached the college quartet from 1941-1944. ?Miss Martha? then continued her formal education at the Julliard School of Music and later at Columbia University in New York City where she met her teacher and future husband, Duane Price Kline. Mrs. Kline received her Masters of Music Degree from Columbia University, and following their marriage, she and Mr. Kline moved to Shawnee, OK, where they served on the music faculty of Oklahoma Baptist University. Both later returned to Greensboro where they taught music at Greensboro Women?s College, now the University of NC at Greensboro. Martha and Duane moved back to Newton and assumed responsibility for and ownership of Mrs. Kline?s father hosiery business in Claremont. She served as Secretary-treasurer of C.D. Jessup Hosiery Company and later established Jessup-Kline Hosiery Company, of which she was president. An accomplished musician, Mrs. Kline served several area churches as church organist and choir director throughout her many years of service to the community. In addition, she was extremely active in the American Field Exchange Program and was the liaison for many AFS students whom she helped place in this area throughout the years. Known for her vivacious, eclectic wit and her extensive vocabulary, Martha was elected the Board of Advisors of Gardner Webb University where she served as secretary-treasurer for years and was later named Board Member Emeritus. She and Duane enjoyed traveling, following their favorite sports teams, playing cards with neighbors and friends and having dinner at Eseola Lodge in Linville. In addition, both were instrumental in preservation efforts as they assisted, Hugh Morton, as he developed wildflower gardens at Grandfather Mountain. A member of First Baptist Church in Newton, she was also active in the Ba Blur Club, the Thursday Morning Book Club, and both she and Mr. Kline were long-time members of the Catawba Valley Executives Club. The Kline?s were married 64 years until his death in April 2012. Although they had no siblings or children, they were surrounded by a host of good friends, including long-time friend Janie Parks Peak who has cared for the couple the last several years. The property which housed the Jessup-Kline Mill was donated last year to the City of Claremont and plans are under way to design and build a children?s park and greenway opening which will be named in memory of the Kline?s. Fervent advocates of Gardner Webb University, they were also devout UNC Chapel Hill fans and traveled with the teams on many trips throughout the country as they supported their beloved Tar heels. Mrs. Kline?s Baldwin Grand Piano was gifted to Gardner Webb University and dedicated on April 3rd of this year and is now a focal point of the new student center. The funeral service will be 11:00AM Wednesday April 23, 2014 at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Tim Wepner & Dr. Chuck Adair will officiate. Burial will follow at Eastview Cemetery in Newton. Memorials may be made to Catawba Regional Hospice 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658. Mrs. Peak wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Trinity Village for their gentle and professional care of Mrs. Kline and also expresses her sincere gratitude to Steve Thomas, Darwin Samples, neighbors, Sara and John Caldwell, Maurice Capps, Jeff Ingle of Gardner Webb University, Jake and Melinda Parks and Tim Wepner for their assistance and guidance throughout the last few years.