Roger Anthony Martin

The Reverend Dr. Roger Anthony Martin, age 90, passed peacefully on October 29, 2024. He was born on June 20, 1934 in Belton, SC. He was a graduate of Mars Hill College and Furman University - where he won and Endel Medal in history. He graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary with honors in1963. He held the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Georgia, and his dissertation, "John J. Zubly: Colonial Georgia Minister" (1976) was awarded a special prize by the Georgia Daughters of the American Revolution. Dr. Martin was also the author of several articles in historical publications. During his time at UGA, he taught history as a graduate student and was deeply devoted to his students. He was a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society, and remained and avid Georgia Bulldog fan all his life. Dr. Martin served proudly in the United States Air Force predominantly in the Twelfth Air Force at Ramstein, Germany.

While stationed there, Roger met the love of his life, Julienne Troutman, whom he later married in 1958. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister June 1963. He served as a minister at First Presbyterian, Columbus, GA; University Presbyterian, Baton Rouge, LA; First Presbyterian, Cartersville, GA; Westminster Presbyterian, Rome, GA; Rockmart Presbyterian, Rockmart, GA; LaFayette Presbyterian, LaFayette, GA; and Beersheba Presbyterian, Summerville, GA. He was the moderator of Cherokee Presbytery in 1979 and was a commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1991.

Dr. Martin served on various committees of the Synod of Louisiana and of Cherokee Presbytery in NW Georgia. During the '80s, he was a member of the Task Force on Baptism of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He had a special interest in spiritual renewal and led retreats for both ministers and churches in the '80s and '90s in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Dr. Martin is survived by his daughter, Kathryn Ray (David), grandsons Gabriel and Conor Ray, granddaughter Tori Green, sister Nona Lollis (Thomas), nephews Ted Martin, Michael and Brady Lollis, and niece Carol Brooks. He was preceded in death by his wife, Julie Martin, his son, James "Mac" Martin, his brother, Terry Martin, and his sister, Jane Martin.

Dr. Martin's funeral service will be held at 1 pm November 12, 2024, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rome, GA with family receiving family and friends at a reception following the service.

Roger loved the people of NW Georgia, and the mountains, streams, trees, flowers, and the land. With his beloved wife, Julie, he shared a deep joy in the study of the Holy Bible, the derivation, meaning, and use of words, the study of birds of this region, and leaf trips in autumn. The most vivid pursuits of his life were the worship of God, expository preaching, and teaching the Scriptures. Indeed, he was still conducting weekly worships at the retirement facility where he lived just six weeks before his passing.

Among his favorite quotes were these: "Like a flock of homesick cranes flying night and day back to their mountain nests, let all my life take its voyage to its eternal home in one salutation to You, O God." (Rabindranath Tagore). "Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it." (Confucius)

Lastly, Dr. Martin understood, appreciated, and loved these words of the Apostle Thomas about the resurrected Christ: "My Lord, and my God!" (John 20:28) He considered these the "definitive words of the Universe" and that "none more important than these will ever be spoken".