Rev. A.B. Martin Jr.

The Rev. A.B. Martin Jr., a resident of Lynn Jarvis Road, Kinsey, died Sunday night, June 8, 2008, at his residence surrounded by his family. He was 85.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2008, in the Kinsey Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Wingate and a son-in-law, Bill Dorminy, officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory. Holman-Headland Mortuary is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice, 2855 Ross Clark Circle, Suite 110, Dothan, AL 36301.
The Rev. Martin was the sixth of seven children born to Aaron B. Martin Sr. and Willie Mae (Martin) Martin on Nov. 17, 1922, in Houston County.
The Rev. Martin graduated from Houston County High School in Columbia in 1942. In January of 1945, he was drafted by the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving on the USS Chester and the USS Atapaka as a Fireman First Class. While serving in the Navy, he accepted the Lord Jesus' call to the gospel ministry. After returning home from the Navy in the fall of 1946, he entered Howard College (Samford University) where he received his AB Degree in religion and a minor in history. He later received a BS Degree in Education from Troy University. The Rev. Martin was ordained to preach at Kinsey Baptist Church. In November of 1949 the Lord led him to his first pastorate, Webb Baptist Church. Over his lifetime, the Rev. Martin served several Southern Baptist Churches in the Columbia, Judson and Geneva Baptist Associations, including Webb, Camp Springs, Hebron, Mount Gilead, Mount Pleasant, Mount Ararat, Bethlehem, Calvary of Cottonwood, Madrid, New Providence, Mount Calvary, Union Hill and the Balkum Baptist Church as well as the New Zion Free Will Baptist Church. He was a member of the Kinsey Baptist Church and the Lynn Jarvis Sunday School Class. The Rev. Martin was also a member of the Kinsey Oldtimers and the Amazing Kinsey Pathlighters.
The Rev. Martin was dual-employed most of his lifetime. He preached on the weekends and taught school during the week. He taught school at Fadette, Slocomb and Madrid before serving as principal at Harmon Junior High School for 11 years and then returning to the classroom at Ashford High School. After having taught for a total of 32 years, he retired in 1984. He was a member of the National Education Association, Alabama Education Association and the Dothan-Houston County Retired Teachers Association where he served three terms as President. He was also a member of the Alabama State Retired Teachers Association Foundation Board and the Alabama Retired Teachers Board of Directors of District 9 for four years.
The Rev. Martin was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Owens Martin; two sisters, Arlene Martin and Willie Bell Martin Merritt; and three brothers, Foy Martin, Alvin Martin and Alto Martin.
Surviving relatives include four daughters, Laura Chafin and husband, Larry, Dothan, June Norman and husband, Sonny, Newville, Marie Peacock and husband, Lee, Hodgesville, Lyne Dorminy and husband, Bill, Dothan; a son, Phillip Martin and wife, Debra, Ashford; a brother, Henry D. Martin and wife, Gwen, Kinsey; sisters-in-law, Lucy Martin, Andalusia, Mildred Martin, Kansas City, Kan., Martha Waters Owens, Gulf Shores; 12 grandchildren, Libby Chafin Bragg and husband, Tim, Philip Chafin and wife, Noemy, Larry Chafin Jr. and wife, Colette, Sonja Norman Barton and husband, Chris, Gina Norman Clark and husband, Coleman, April Norman Sowell and husband, Steven, Aaron Martin III, Jeremy Peacock, Jordan Peacock, William Dorminy, Michael Dorminy and Courtney Dorminy; 15 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Ronnie Benson, Johnny Cochran, M.C. Douglas, Michael Douglas, Vinson Hagler and Emmitt Benton. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be David Bass, Charles Hall, Thurman Hardy, Henry D. Martin, Pat Raley and Douglas Walden.
The family would like to extend a special "thank you" to Dr. Guru Prakash and his office staff, the DaVita Staff, Dr. Randall Nichols, Dr. Kenneth Tucker, Dr. Joseph Clements and Dr. Gannon and the staff of Covenant Hospice. We would especially like to thank an extended family member, Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, for the all the days of her unending love and care for our dad and her guidance to us. We would also like to thank all of our family and friends who have stood by and supported our father and us with your visits, phone calls and prayers. We thank you, we love you, and God bless you all.
Holman-Headland Mortuary, (334) 693-3371 is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.