Martha Lawson Goodloe was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri, where she graduated with honors with a BA degree in History. Thereafter she attended Washington and Lee University Law School in Lexigton, Virginia where she earned her juris doctorate degree.

Ms. Goodloe has stayed current in the legal field, most recently participating in a week long estate planning class sponsored by the American Bar Association at New Law School.