Martha S. Cawthorne Rhea, 81, of East Ridge, passed away Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010.She was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga and North Georgia area and was a 1948 graduate of Central High School. She retired in 1992 from the late Dr. Deene R. Leventhals office as a dental assistant with over 30 years of service. She also worked for the Department of Labor North Georgia Unit in Fort Oglethorpe, and was a member of McFarland United Methodist Church.She was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce T. and Ruby M. Shepard; four sisters; and one brother.Survivors include her husband, J. Walter Rhea; son, Bruce D. (Malinda) Cawthorne, of Cumming, Ga.; two daughters, Lynne Cawthorne, of Chickamauga and Cindy (Sam) Payne, of Rossville; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Cherry, of Cumming, Ga., and Ellyn Payne, of Rossville; and several nieces and nephews.The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sharron Cockrell, Jacquelyn Chestnutt, Beth Thomas, Hayley Doss and Yulonda Taylor for their special love and care during her illness.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Countryside Hospice at 106 Pearl St., LaFayette, GA 30728.Condolences may be sent to www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the South Crest Chapel with the Rev. Jim Gennoe officiating.Interment will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2010.The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Saturday at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, Rossville.