Martha Naomi Waller Duke, age 88 of Manchester, went to heaven on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. To the family, it just makes sense that God would send the chariot on Valentine’s Day to bring Naomi home to live with Him forever. A graveside service for family and friends will be held on Friday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. at Gilley Hill Cemetery (3790 Gilley Hill Road) in Hollow Springs, Cannon County near Bradyville, Tenn. The family celebrated Naomi’s life and legacy at Chapman’s Chapel Church of the Nazarene (Chapman Chapel Road) in Pelham, on Saturday, Feb. 22 with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a Celebration Service from 1-2 p.m. There will be a meal for all family and friends at the church immediately following the service to allow additional time for visitation and fellowship together. Donations can be made to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at www.NCM.org. Naomi was born Dec. 23, 1936 in Smith County, Tennessee and graduated from Hume-Fogg High School after relocating to Nashville, with her family as a teenager. Naomi and Russell raised their family in Manchester, and have lived in their home on Keylon Street for the past 63 years. Naomi loved her church at Chapman’s Chapel and attended a virtual bible study each week with ladies from across the country. In 2023, Naomi wrote her testimony as follows: I remember hearing and believing that God loves me when someone read John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I had a confidence in my heart that God would forgive me of my sins if I would just place my faith and trust in His son, Jesus Christ, who paid a great price on the cross. I was nine years old when I asked God to come into my heart and forgive me and live with me, and that decision has carried me through the years. Naomi was preceded in death by her parents, John Dotson and Minnie Mildred Sircy Waller: siblings, Christine Hewitt, Juanita Jones, Nelda McMackin, and Aaron Waller. Naomi is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Russell Keith Duke; children, Mark Duke (Susan), Keith Duke, Lori Moore (Geoff), and Karen Nabi (Ken); grandchildren, Elizabeth Duke, Jonathan Duke (Sarah), Christine Duke, Hannah Duke, Ethan Duke (Kate), Faith Duke, Andrew Duke, Stephen Duke, Emily Moore, Christopher Moore, Josiah Nabi (McKinley), Aidan Nabi, Ellis Nabi, and Bennett Nabi; great grandchildren, Shiloh Duke, Julia Duke, and Peter Nabi; sister-in-law, Jeannie Waller; several nieces and nephews; many loving caregivers, neighbors and friends.

Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the Duke family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com