Martha Ann Hurst, 73, was welcomed into Heaven by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, December 11, 2022, in her home. She was born August 16, 1949, in Blytheville, AR, to Archie “Hank” and Mildred Hays. After graduating from Van Buren High School, she attended and graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with her Bachelors in Education. In 1971, she married her high school sweetheart, Michael Hurst, and taught school in Memphis, TN, while he earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery. After the young couple returned to their hometown for him to practice dentistry, the Lord blessed them with not only three sons but also the ability for her to stay home to nurture and raise their sons. As would be expected while raising three boys, her prayer life and devotion to the Lord was greatly increased. Martha, along with Mike, not only taught their sons to live for the Lord, but she was also a great example to them by demonstrating love for others through her actions and prayer life. Alongside her husband, her commitment and service to the Lord through her local church, First Baptist Van Buren, was also evident through her years of teaching Sunday School, participation in North American and foreign mission trips, as well as using her God-given voice to sing praises to Him. Once her sons had all started school, she returned to her teaching career which she always considered a mission field to point others to Christ. After teaching for more than 25 years, she retired. While continuing to be the Proverbs 31-wife to Mike, she also had the great task of helping her sons and their wives show their children, her grandchildren, the love of Christ. Martha’s gift of encouragement touched all those she encountered, and she was known to pray for or with anyone, anywhere. She was preceded in death by her parents Hank and Mildred (Johns) Hays and one brother, Teddy Hays. She is survived by her husband Dr. Michael Hurst of the home; three sons Dr. Mark Hurst and his wife Dusti, Mayor Joe Hurst and his wife Amanda, Nathan Hurst and his wife Amber all of Van Buren; one sister Sarah and her husband Dr. Kent Sweatman of Van Buren; one brother David Hays of Plano, Texas; seven grandchildren Jackson, Hayden, Ethan, Ashton, Hadlee, Eli and Kate. Funeral services will be 1PM, Friday December 16, 2022, at First Baptist Church Worship Center Van Buren, with a private, family burial to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home in Van Buren. Pallbearers will be Jackson Hurst, Hayden Hurst, Ethan Hurst, Eli Hurst, Adam Sweatman, Andrew Sweatman, Charley Williams and Gary Deffenbaugh. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of First Baptist Church Van Buren. Family will visit with relatives and friends Thursday, December 15, 2022, from 5-7PM at First Baptist Church Chapel Van Buren. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering or Operation Christmas Child through First Baptist Church Van Buren.