Ultimate ‘tennis mom’ honored with memorial garden and plaque

Published 5:30 am Thursday, March 9, 2017

Friends and family members gathered Saturday evening at the Pell City Tennis Center for the dedication ceremony of a plaque and memorial garden in honor of Marsha Mize Knepper, who passed away in September of last year, and the location could not be more appropriate.

Known for her humble, kind and caring personality, Marsha, 54, was an avid supporter of the Pell City tennis community along with her husband Shawn Knepper and two children, son Aaron Knepper and daughter Lindsay Efferson. She served as the Treasurer of the Logan Martin Tennis Association, having joined 20 years ago, and was known for her tireless efforts in support of the program.

“She was a great tennis mom. She always told (her children) we had to stay active and play a sport,” Aaron said. “At the age of 12 or 13, things got tougher, but she would not let me quit. I had many conservations and tears with my mom because I wanted to quit, but she would not let me. I did not win that many tournaments in the beginning. My mom told me I was a sleeper and would find my game eventually. And I did.”

Both Aaron and Lindsay were top-ranked players and won their respective Alabama State Championship Tennis Tournaments.

“My mom defined mine and my brother’s work ethic,” Lindsay said. “We all were at the tennis courts seven days a week. She gave up everything to dedicate time to us. Worked full time, children full time, — absolutely everything.”

Now the family tennis tradition is being passed down to Marsha’s grandchildren. Allie Knepper, 2, and Brody Efferson, 4, are both taking lessons at the Pell City Civic Center.

The plaque and memorial garden, sponsored by the Pell City Tennis Center and Logan Martin Tennis Association from donations by friends and family, is located at the Pell City Tennis Center, beside the Pell City Civic Center, by the walkway next to the courts.