Martha Nell Dennard

Martha Nell Dennard passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 11, 2025, in Waxahachie, TX. She was born on December 3, 1950, in Port Arthur, Texas, and was immediately adopted by Walter and Lovada Ellis of Maypearl, Texas —a remarkable Christian couple who wanted and loved her immensely and unconditionally. She perfectly completed their family, having an older brother and sister, Charles Ray and Joellyn. She was raised and attended school in Maypearl, Texas, graduating from Maypearl High School, where she played basketball and excelled in Home Economics.

She married Clyde Thomas (Tommy) Williams of Waxahachie in 1969, a union in which two children were born, April Leigh and Jason Ellis. She created a beautiful and loving home for her family.

An excellent cook, she loved to spoil you with homemade meals and desserts, especially for holidays. She delighted in creating each family member’s “favorite” dish or dessert. She raised her young family as a homemaker in the early years, and when the children were in school, she accepted a part-time job with an unfinished furniture store in Lake Jackson, Texas, where she developed a passion and love for creating that special custom piece of furniture. The time, patience, and care that she took for every step of the process is what made her pieces truly heirloom quality. Her passion for refinishing furniture filled her home with beautiful oak pieces and antique furniture pieces that she salvaged and revived.

In 1986, she moved back home to Maypearl, Texas, with her children to be closer to her family. She began working at the First State Bank in Maypearl to provide for her family, yet made time to attend every band concert, sports event, and awards ceremony. As the kids got older, she advanced her banking career with Comerica Bank until her retirement, where she made many lifelong friends.

While living in Maypearl, she learned and located her biological father, Homer (Super) Alsup. They met and had the opportunity to join families and enjoy one another until his passing. She was so happy to maintain a loving relationship with his family throughout the years.

In the summer of 1988, she had a whirlwind romance and married Jim Lee Wayman. They had only been married a year before he passed unexpectedly, leaving her a widow. Thankfully, she was surrounded by family, friends, and her church congregation, Maypearl Church of Christ.

With both of her children grown, she ultimately found her true love, Eddy Ross Dennard. They married on November 18, 2006, in Waxahachie, in an intimate ceremony with family. His love for her was so beautiful, and he spoiled her in every way. She cherished him, and he cherished her. They built a beautiful home in Reisel, TX, near Waco, which they enjoyed for many years, where they raised their fur-babies, goats, chickens, and gardened together. Sadly, she lost Eddy in 2016, after moving back to a new home in Waxahachie so she could be closer to her children. (Just another way he took exceptional care of her.)

Martha had many hobbies and special interests. She loved jigsaw puzzles, sewing, cooking, and board, card, and dice games (especially Yahtzee). She loved collecting some of her favorite things: cookbooks, Fiesta Ware, antiques, and vintage Vaseline uranium glassware. She adored her two granddaughters, Courtney Lauren and Peyton Elyse. The girls were her pride and joy, and she loved spending special time with them at Grandma’s house. Later in life, after she married Eddy, she added two more grandchildren to the mix, Dalton and Ashlyn. She delighted in cooking for them and playing games with all of them. Holidays were her favorite time when all of the family could be together. She also adored her precious fur-babies: Lucy Lou, Lacey Leigh, and Honey Boo-Boo.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Eddy Ross Dennard; her parents, Walter D. and Leona Lovada Ellis; an infant brother, Jerry; her sister, Joellyn Poynor, and her husband, C.B.; her biological father, Homer (Super) Alsup and his wife, Frankie; and her husband, Jim Lee Wayman.

She is survived by her children: daughter, April Gonzales and her husband, Richard; son, Jason Williams and his wife, Tracy; daughter, Shannon Zander; grand daughters, Courtney Gonzales, Peyton Williams, and Ashlyn Zander; grandson, Dalton Zander; brother, Charles Ray Ellis, brother Rodney Alsup and his wife Sharon; nephews, Russell Poynor, Neal Poynor, Cody Alsup, Chad Alsup, and Connor Alsup; nieces, Cynda Poynor, Lesa Edwards, Michelle Roland, Janet Leon, and Monica Lawler; sister-in-laws, Oletha Ellis and Freddie Williams, and a host of extended family that she dearly loved. She also had many close friends that she loved as if they were family.

Memorial Services are being provided by Wayne Boze Funeral Home on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Visitation will be held from 12:00pm-2:00pm with the Funeral Service immediately following at 2:00pm. Interment at Sardis Cemetery will be set at another time.

The family would like to thank Hospice Plus and the exceptional caregivers who took care of her for the last three years. A heartfelt thank you to Betty, Christy, Fercina, McKeylee, Heather, Shannon, Candy, Tiffany, Bill, Carolyn, and Brandon. We are certain that we could not name everyone, but know that we are truly grateful for your guidance and influence in her life and ours.