Oldest Living Oklahoman Martha Berryhill Dies

Newson6.com

OKMULGEE, Oklahoma -- The Muscogee Creek Nation is in mourning after the tribe lost its oldest member and Oklahoma lost their oldest living resident.

Martha Berryhill was 110-years-old when she died Saturday and the only remaining person left who was listed on the original Dawes Rolles.

Born and raised in Okmulgee, she will be remembered as a woman of faith who leaves an legacy of compassion and love.

The centenarian loved to hand sew quilts and made her own patterns to quilt when her eye sight allowed. She would sell quilts she made to make extra spending money. She also loved to cook and bake cobblers.

Related Story: Martha Berryhill Celebrates 109th Birthday

Berryhill was known for walking to nursing homes and taking hot dishes of traditional Indian foods such as; wild onions (in season), sofkey, sour cornbread, fried salt pork or chicken, dumplings and cobblers to Indian patients. Sometimes she would take fresh fruit and distribute to them and visit speaking her native tongue which is Mvskoke (Creek). Her purpose in visiting the nursing home was that she didn't want the elderly to feel forgotten or unloved. She would also read scriptures and witness to each resident.

A wake service will be held Wednesday, December 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Creek Nation Mound Building in Okmulgee.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Creek Nation Mound Building Auditorium. Berryhill will be buried in the Tallahassee Cemetery.