Martha Lamarlas Brightwell

Martha Lamarlas "Mert" Carroll Brightwell, 75, a resident of Highland Home, Alabama, passed away peacefully in her home while surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 24th, 2023. Funeral services for Mert will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, June 27th, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Rev. Chuck Francisco officiating. Interment will follow in Berea Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday for one hour prior to the service.

Mert was truly the matriarch of her entire family. She was always the one everyone turned to when help was needed or advice wanted. And that wasn't true for just her own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but also for multiple generations of nieces and nephews who never once doubted that Aunt Mert would be there for them. Why? Because her heart was larger than life and open to everyone who needed her. Her defining characteristic was her love of her family. Mert never failed to put them first and made each and every one of them feel important. Obviously, she was quite outgoing and every stranger was really just a friend she hadn't met yet. The important thing is that she was also just as deeply loved by all those who knew and cherished her. Words cannot possibly grasp how much she has meant to all of them over the years nor how much she will be missed. She has left behind a treasure trove of memories for them to hold dear as she lives on in their hearts and minds.

Mert was preceded in death by her father, James W. Carroll, and siblings, Rebecca Shempert and Kenneth W. Carroll. She is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Huey L. Brightwell; daughters, Darlene (Mark) Wise and Tina (John) Vitollo; grandchildren, Kyle Foster and Emily Williams; great-grandchildren, Tristan Foster, Lexie Foster, Silas Foster, Addie Foster, and Tate Foster; mother, Katherine Pettus; sister, Kathy (Robert) Owen; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Adam Carroll, Kenny Wayne Carroll, Kyle Foster, John Vitollo, Michael Brightwell, Cole Brightwell, Mark Wise, and Rob Owen.