Martha (Mitchell) Zoller

Martha Mitchell Zoller, 66, of Gainesville, Ga was promoted to the Church Triumphant on June 22, 2026. Martha was born on August 23, 1959, in Columbus, Ga to Frank Arthur Mitchell and Juanita Roof Mitchell.

Most people are biased and think their mom is the coolest person ever, but our mom actually is the coolest person ever. Yeah, Martha has a cool job where she asks the hard-hitting, hot-button questions to a lot of VIPs (very important politicians), but what we do for work doesn't really matter all that much in the grand scheme of life. It's how we treat people. That's what really makes her the coolest: her bottomless well of love, compassion, and availability for those that she calls family or friends. If you are lucky enough to call her a friend, you know that the line between family and friends is practically non-existent, as she treats all the people she loves like family.

One of the things our mom loved most is musical theatre. Yes, she is a proud member of the ultra-exclusive, super cool club of theatre kids, and you should be jealous! Some of our fondest memories were spent with her in a dark theatre on Broadway or singing show tunes at the top of our lungs in the car.

Martha's father was a veteran of World War II and a POW escapee. Her mother worked for the Rich's Department Store in Atlanta, Ga. The youngest of four children, Martha attended Columbia High School in Dekalb County before going on to graduate from the University of Georgia's Grady School of Journalism in 1979. After undergrad, Martha started her career as a corporate buyer for Rich's Department Store in Atlanta. She returned to UGA to receive her Master's Degree in Political Science in 2021.

Martha began her broadcasting career in 1994 as co-host of the “Mid-Day” program on WDUN AM 550 in Gainesville after being a regular caller to the station. In one of Martha's most beloved origin stories, she recounts how Hilary Clinton's infamous quote, “I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies...” got her so fired up that she had to call into the local radio station to speak her mind. She started the long-running, successful “The Martha Zoller Show” in 2008, and was a regular contributor on Fox 5 Atlanta's “The Georgia Gang,” making frequent guest appearances on news outlets such as Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, and many others. Her moniker was the Velvet Hammer because she was tough on issues but always kept a smile on her face and compassion in her heart.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Lin, her four, amazing children Chip, Mark, Ricky, and Suzanne, and her sister, Pam. She was also blessed with three daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, one step-daughter, and six incredible grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Frank and Juanita, her sister, Linda, and her brother, Frank. The family asks for your grace and privacy as they process their grief.

Her memorial will be held at Gainesville First United Methodist Church at 11am on Monday, June 29th with a reception to follow in the same location. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association and/or the American Heart Association.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com  

For viewing on livestream

https://www.gfumc.com/memorialservices

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