Martha Luck Comer

Martha Luck Comer

A Life of Faith, Family, Generosity, and Service

Martha Luck Comer, 93, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator, philanthropist, and devoted community leader, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on November 8, 2026. A lifelong resident of Seagrove, North Carolina, Martha leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of love, generosity, faith, and service to the community she cherished throughout her life.

Known for her warmth, gracious spirit, outgoing personality, and genuine love for others, Martha touched countless lives through her kindness, leadership, and unwavering dedication to her family and community. Her remarkable life was defined not only by her many accomplishments but also by the relationships she treasured, the traditions she preserved, and the countless ways she gave of herself to others.

Born in Randolph County, Martha was the daughter of the late Ivey Birch Luck and Ruby Owen Luck. Her father was one of the original founders of Mountain View Canning Company, which later became the nationally recognized Luck's Beans. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in Seagrove's history, Martha developed an enduring appreciation for hard work, community involvement, and the importance of giving back. These values would become the foundation of a lifetime dedicated to serving others.

Martha was a graduate of Seagrove High School and High Point College in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, where she was a proud member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. She began her professional life as an educator, teaching in Moore and Randolph counties, including Seagrove and Westmoore Elementary schools. As a beloved third-grade teacher, she helped shape the lives of generations of young students, instilling in them a love of learning and the confidence to succeed.

Her passion for education extended far beyond the classroom. Martha served for more than 30 years on the Randolph Community College Board of Trustees, having first been appointed by North Carolina Governor James Holshouser Jr. to succeed her father, Ivey Luck. Throughout her tenure, she was a dedicated advocate for educational opportunity and the continued growth of the college. She also remained a generous supporter of the Randolph Community College Foundation, believing deeply in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities.

Martha maintained a lifelong connection to her beloved alma mater, High Point University. In 2017, the university honored her commitment to education and service with the dedication of the Martha Luck Comer Learning Commons in the Wanek Center, a space created to inspire learning, collaboration, and academic achievement for generations of students.

In November 2025, Martha received one of High Point University's highest honors, the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary accomplishments and decades of dedication to education, philanthropy, and community leadership. University President Dr. Nido Qubein praised her life as an example of living with both "success and significance," a fitting tribute to a woman whose influence extended far beyond her own community.

Martha's commitment to public service was equally remarkable. Following the passing of her first husband, D. Clinton Comer, she served on the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, completing the remainder of his term. After filling her late husband’s term, she chose to run for re-election and became the first female to serve as a commissioner of the county. Martha also served on the board of First National Bank, contributing her leadership, wisdom, and perspective to the region's business and civic life.

Throughout her life, Martha generously supported numerous organizations and institutions close to her heart, including the Seagrove Pottery Center, Seagrove Library, Westmore Elementary, Randolph County Library Board, YMCA, Randolph Community College Foundation, and High Point University. She was particularly passionate about preserving Seagrove's rich history and pottery traditions, recognizing the importance of honoring the community's past while investing in its future.

Her Christian faith was a guiding force throughout her life. As a devoted lifetime member of Seagrove Christian Church, where her father was a founding charter member, Martha faithfully served as a trustee and in other leadership roles, offering her time, talents, and generosity in support of her church family. Her faith was reflected in the way she lived each day, through her compassion for others, her welcoming spirit, and her steadfast commitment to serving those around her.

One of Martha's most meaningful contributions to her hometown was her involvement in preserving the historic Luck's Beans Cannery property. Deeply connected to the Luck and Comer families' history with the company, Martha helped support the vision of transforming the former cannery into a place that would once again serve the people of Seagrove. The property was designated the Luck Comer Lail Center, honoring the families whose leadership and generosity helped shape the community. A portion of the facility was named the Martha Luck Comer Community Center in honor of her many years of service, generosity, and devotion to the community. This meaningful tribute reflects Martha's enduring love for Seagrove and her family's commitment to preserving its history while creating a welcoming place for generations to come.

To her family, she was affectionately known as Gran Gran, a name that represented a lifetime of love, warmth, cherished memories, and the special bond she shared with her grandchildren. While her many public accomplishments were remarkable, those closest to her will remember her most for her generous heart, lively personality, deep devotion to family, and ability to make everyone around her feel welcomed and loved. Her family was the center of her world, and she took immense pride in the lives and accomplishments of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.

Martha is survived by her two loving daughters, Elizabeth Comer Dozier and her husband, Robert Winston Dozier Jr., of Troy, North Carolina, and Joan Comer Johnston and her husband, William Ransom Johnston Jr., of Raleigh, North Carolina; step-children, James William Johnson, III and his wife, Connie, and Vickie Johnson Mendenhall.

She was the proud and loving grandmother of six grandchildren: Coleman Birch Dozier, Mary Winston Dozier Dalrymple and her husband, Edwin Archibald Dalrymple III, Chandler Ivey Dozier, William Ransom Johnston III, Margaret Ivy Johnston, and Martha Luck Johnston. She was also the great-grandmother of Edwin Archibald Dalrymple IV, who brought another generation of joy and love to her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ivey Birch Luck and Ruby Owen Luck, her husband of 30 years, Dewey Clinton Comer, and James William Johnson, Jr. both of whom shared meaningful chapters in her life.

Whether through teaching a child, supporting a local institution, serving her church, preserving a piece of Seagrove's history, or simply offering a kind word to a friend, Martha approached life with generosity, grace, and purpose. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved so dearly, the institutions she helped strengthen, the community she faithfully served, the countless lives made better through her kindness, and the enduring difference she made in the place she always called home.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 2:00pm at the Luck Family Farm, 1580 NC Hwy 705 S., Seagrove, NC 27341.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Martha’s honor to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203, Randolph Community College D. Clinton and Martha Luck Comer Scholarship Fund, 629 Industrial Park Ave, Asheboro, NC 27205, High Point University School of Education, One University Parkway, High Point, NC 27268, or Hilltop Memorial Cemetery Fund, 424 E. Main St., Seagrove, NC 27341.