Sara Ford Martin

Funeral services for Sara Ford Martin, 81, will be Monday, August 5, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home with the Rev. Floyd Willis, the Rev. James Rainey, the Rev. Hollis Martin and Jonathan Foster officiating. Burial will follow at Chosea Springs Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Martin passed away Saturday, August 3, 2013, at her home. Survivors include a son, James Martin Jr. (Dee), of Jacksonville; a daughter, Debbie Foster (Ken), of Griffin, Ga.; five grandchildren, Jonathan T. Foster (Lydia Davis), Drill Sgt. Andrew M. Foster, Judson Martin, Ashleigh Martin and Roseanna Martin; two great-grandchildren, Karlee Foster and Samantha Foster; a sister, Charlene Ford Creel, of Jacksonville; her mother-in-law, Lillian Martin, of Piedmont; brothers and sisters-in-law, Janice and Dallas Gambrel, Hollis and Janice Martin, Linda and Art Ingram, Johnny and Cathy Martin and Joey and Sandy Martin, all of Piedmont; best friend for 80 years, Betty Ann Newsome, of Jacksonville; chosen brother-in-law, Mac McLendon and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Ronald Smith, Gary Williamson, Allen Hammett, Jerry Anderson, Jeremy Abbott, Jeff Bull, Mark Willingham and Butch Bowen. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Hammett, Paul Logan, Dallas Gambrel and Argin Hulsey. Mrs. Martin was a Jacksonville resident and was a member of the Nances Creek Congregational Holiness Church. She served as a pastor's wife for over 50 years, loved flowers, enjoyed spending time with her family and was a loving mother, grandmother and sister. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. James Martin; her parents, John and Ruby Ford; a sister, Margie Ford Young; a nephew, Statesman Baggett; father-in-law, Rev. Joe Martin and chosen sister, Vallie Poland McLendon. Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions may be made to New Beacon Hospice, 818 Leighton Avenue, Anniston, Alabama 36207. The family would like to extend a special thanks to New Beacon Hospice and Jamey, Kimberly and Kendra. Online condolences may be made at www.thompsonfuneralhomepiedmont.com