Annie Hope Martino

Annie Hope Martino, age 19, of Bessemer City, North Carolina and formally of Marion, North Carolina, passed away on Saturday, October 12, 2019.  The daughter of Joseph Martino and Melissa LeAnn Jones, she was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina on February 11, 2000. 

Annie was a graduate from McDowell High School in 2018. Shortly after graduation, she joined the United State Air Force as a Security Forces specialist. Annie continued to enjoy her hobbies of traveling, reading poetry, her love for music and been a food connoisseur.  She loved spending as much time as she could with her family and her boyfriend Anthony Perry. She had a love for helping others and an infectious smile that could light up any room. Annie will forever hold a place in our hearts and memories.

Annie is survived by her mother, Melissa LeAnn Jones and her husband, Tim; her father, Joseph Martino and his wife, Lisa; maternal grandparents, Lisa and Jerry Lowery; paternal grandparents, Mike and Alice Blackwell; maternal great-grandfather, Marion Leon Vail; siblings, Ishman Martino, Dakota Jones, Luis Herrera, Meghan Jones, Ean Hughes and Ty Blackburn; along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

A service to celebrate the life of Miss Annie will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at New Manna Baptist Church in Marion with Rev. Dean Owenby officiating.  Interment will follow at McDowell Memorial Park.  Full military honors will be provided by the United States Air Force.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., prior to the service, at the church. 

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Annie’s memory are asked to consider, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 or by visiting www.stjude.org.