Obituary of Martha Elaine Kierce

Martha Elaine Tuten Kierce, age 90, of Winter Haven went to be with her Heavenly Father, July 21, 2023.

She was born October 23, 1932 in Grady County, Georgia to Louis Lonzo and Ruth Burt Tuten. She attended Pelham High School. On August 7, 1948 she married Carroll Kierce of Mitchell County and they had four children. In 1955 they moved to Auburndale, Florida. Besides being a good wife and mother she worked at Belk-Lindsey in Winter Haven. Later she was the church secretary at Inwood Baptist Church in Winter Haven. Among her hobbies were fishing, playing cards, making silk flower arrangements, cake decorating, gathering and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables, but most of all she loved traveling and doing things with her family. She was a very creative and talented lady.

Elaine was preceeded in death by parents, Louis Lonzo and Ruth B Tuten; husband, Carroll Kierce; daughters, Beth Kierce Johns, and Julie Kierce Littrell; sisters, Frances Tuten Garner, Sara Tuten Culpepper; and brother Larry Thomas Tuten.

She is survived by daughters, Martha Kierce Wade (Jay) Lakeland and Diane Kierce Blackburn (Wally) Winter Haven; grandchildren, Kevin Johns (Natalie) Jacksonville, Nicole Apel (David) Winter Haven, Brett Blackburn (Amanda) Winter Haven, Jarrod Blackburn (Lindsey) Winter Park, Jenna Berdis (Thomas) Winter Haven, and Shane Littrell of Atlanta; great grandchildren, Kyle and Emma Johns, Carson and Megan Apel, Abigail and CeCe Blackburn, Ella Rose Blackburn, Sophia, Peyton, and Easton Berdis; son-in-laws, Vance Littrell and Larry Johns; sister, Betty Tuten Whitston (Freddye) Cotton, GA; brother, Lannis Tuten Leesburg, Ga and an adopted daughter and long time family friend, Renee Barrow of Auburndale.

A visitation is planned from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, August 5, 2023

The memorial service to follow at 4:00 p.m.