Martin Elementary School mourns loss of custodian
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- The Martin Elementary School community is mourning the death of a beloved staff member, mother and friend.
Christina "Chrissy" Townsend, 49, a custodian at Martin Elementary, passed away Nov. 4 due to complications from COVID-19. A funeral was held Nov. 7 for Townsend, and more than 100 school and community members held a candlelight memorial Nov. 8 in her honor.
Townsend worked for Wood County Schools for 21 years, and the past four were at Martin.
"She was just a pleasure to work with," said custodian Tim Ferguson. "She never complained. She did anything we asked. She was always cheerful."
Though Townsend could be shy, her presence always lifted up those around her, said a press release from Wood County Schools.
"She always had a smile. She was always in a good mood," said school secretary Melanie McCrady. "No matter what you asked her to do, she would jump on it. She was kind and caring and just wonderful."
More than anything, Townsend loved her daughter Megyn, who is a first-grader at Martin, said Wood County Schools.
"She was fully devoted to her daughter," said pre-kindergarten teachers aide Margo Belcher, who had Megyn in class for two years. "She cherished being a mom. She was incredibly loving and supportive of her daughter, and they had a very special bond together."
Friends said Megyn was a fixture at the school because she always came to the building early with her mother and sometimes helped her clean tables or performed other small tasks, said Wood County Schools.
"That was just the kind of mom she was," said Melissa Armann, who was Megyn's pre-kindergarten teacher. Townsend "always had Megyn with her, and she always had something for her to do. She was just very kind."
While she was in the hospital, friends and co-workers said they assured Townsend they would look out for her daughter until she could get better. Townsend responded "I know my Martin family will watch over Megyn."
"She was just a part of us," said cook Barb Dotson. "We were like a family, and a part of us is missing now."
Friends said it is a loss that is felt by everyone who knew Townsend, said Wood County Schools.
"The climate and culture of the school has changed in her absence," McCrady said. "She will be greatly missed."
"She loved Martin school," said cook Jodi Lockhart. "This place will not be the same without her."
"This was her school, without a doubt," said classroom aide Michael Newlon, who also head's the school PTA. "She was always interested in what we were doing next, and always supportive. It didn't matter, she wanted to be a part of whatever would support this school."
Julia Hartge, a multi-categorial teacher at Martin, said she knew Townsend not only as a co-worker, but as a fellow member of Sunrise Baptist Church and that faith played an important role in her life.
"I think it's really important for people to know how faithful she was up until the very end, because she was a great role model for a lot of people," Hartge said. "A lot of us depended on talking with her and praying with her, and that is a very important part of our lives that is gone as well."