Martha Anne Hollis Houk
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Martha Anne Hollis Houk of Atlanta, GA died December 1, 2021 at the age of 83, peacefully with her family by her side. She was born October 14, 1938 at Piedmont Hospital, daughter to the late James Walker and Martha Brown Hollis and is preceded in death by her beloved husband, David Lowes Houk, and son, Walker Talbott Houk.
As a freshman at the University of Georgia, Anne met David in 1957 in a Biology class as they were seated alphabetically. She graduated in three years Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education. They married three months after graduation and decided that they would start a family in Atlanta, Georgia, following David's service in the US Navy in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Raised in Rutledge, Georgia, Anne was quite the sports enthusiast. At Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia, she was captain of the basketball team and drum majorette. Her love for sports was clearly evident in the enthusiasm she expressed as a fan. "Momma Houk" - as she was affectionately known by friends of the family - was audibly distinguishable in large stadiums across Georgia including Sanford Stadium in Athens GA. She had a unique obsession for her Bulldogs. On several occasions, she would leave phone messages for the coaching staff of Georgia expressing her frustration with the offense as well as recommending strategies that the coaches should utilize. Needless to say, she never received a return phone call. Her passion for the teams she supported was contagious.
Anne and David considered it divine providence that they ended up choosing St. Anne's as their church home which they never left. She was an active member at the church serving in the choir, altar guild, flower guild, youth ministry and as a volunteer. No telling how many casseroles she prepared for dinners in the parish hall. Most importantly, she established the foundation of a Christ-centered life for her children by implementing a mandatory weekly attendance policy.
Anne was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend to many and she will always be remembered for her deep love and support of her family and friends. It is difficult to determine how many hearts she touched as a Kindergarten teacher for 25 years at The Lovett School and as a preschool teacher for 15 years at St. Anne's Day School. She loved her work and the students she taught and her students loved being around her. When vacationing poolside in coastal Georgia, it was not uncommon for Anne to be surrounded by young children and parents waiting for their turn to receive a hug and a warm word of encouragement from their former teacher. She had a unique ability to understand things from a child's perspective and a core belief that every child matters. She brought joy and energy into her life's work by modeling compassion and
empathy for the children in her care. Her legacy is the deep imprint she has left on so many of our hearts that we know will never fade.
Anne is survived by her brother James Walker Hollis, Jr. (Jan), her children David Houk, Jr. (Lisa), Hollis Houk (Julia), daughter-in-law Natalie Houk, grandchildren Hollis Houk, Jr., William Houk, Sally Anne Houk, Wiley Houk and James Houk. Anne's family would like to offer special thanks to the exceptional caregivers at Legacy Ridge - Buckhead and Agape Hospice.
The memorial service celebrating the life of Anne Houk will be held at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 3098 St Anne's Lane NW, Atlanta, GA 30327, Friday December 17th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the "Music Ministry" at St. Anne's Episcopal Church. www.southerncremations.com