MARTHA J. ROSS, Death Notice

Martha Jackson Ross, 89, a long-time resident of Bethesda and Frederick, Maryland and award-winning former President of the Oral History Association, died April 5, 2013 in Fremont, Ohio.

In 1976, Ross helped co-found the Oral History in the Middle Atlantic Region (OHMAR) regional professional organization and In 1982, she received OHMAR's Forrest C. Pogue Award "for distinguished, unique and continuing contributions to oral history." In 2001, the Oral History Association honored Martha's contributions to the field by establishing the Martha Ross Teaching Award, and later the University of Maryland Baltimore County created the Martha Ross Center for Oral History.

Ross taught oral history at University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned her Master's Degree in 1978, mentoring many oral history practitioners. Ross also conducted numerous oral history projects in the Washington, DC area, including for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, National Park Service and the American College of Dentists. Throughout her life, Ross radiated her passion for principled excellence and truth telling, combined with absolute good humor and respect. A native of Selma, Alabama, one of her most courageous acts was walking the final day of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march, carrying a handmade sign that read, "Here's One Native Selmian for Freedom and Justice."

Ross was the first child of Alabama educator Walter Mahan Jackson and Anna Bell Seymour. She graduated from Montevallo College for Women (History and English major) in 1945. In 1988, her alma mater (now University of Montevallo) named her Distinguished Alumnus.

Martha Ross met her husband, Dr. Donald M. Ross, during World War II while both were working on the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Throughout their 66 years together they enjoyed travelling, reading, playing bridge and she was the life of every party since she played piano by ear. In addition to her husband, Ross is also survived by her children, David (DanQing) Ross of Houston, TX, Michael (Lillian) Ross of San Jose, CA, Kathryn (Rev. Joseph Lees) Ross of Fremont, OH, Gregory (Jan) Ross of Cary, NC, John Ross of Los Angeles, CA and Maria (Jim) Ross-Lyons of Kent, WA.

In addition she is survived by 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fremont, OH, followed by lunch at St. John's Lutheran Church, also in Fremont. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Oral History Association (OHA, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 4117, Atlanta, GA, 30302-4117).

Published in The Washington Post on April 19, 2013