John Harrison Martin, Jr.

Graveside services for John Harrison Martin, Jr., 79, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 2009 at Magnolia Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Jeri Parris Perkins will officiate and Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home is serving the family. The family will receive friends Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Martin died Monday, May 11, 2009. Born in Florence, SC, he was a son of the late John Harrison and Elizabeth Pressly Martin. He graduated from Hartsville High School Class in 1947, attended Clemson College and graduated from The University of South Carolina in 1952. During his 38 year career with Sonoco, he served in plants in Lowell, MA, Akron, IN, Atlanta, GA, Longview, TX, and Covina, CA, returning to Hartsville, SC in 1968 until his retirement. He was a member of Sonoco’s Old Timers Club. Prior to beginning his career with Sonoco, he served his country as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force stationed in Korea. He served his fellow man and community as a retired Rotarian (treasurer), retired member of the B & F Club in Hartsville and served on the South Carolina Board of Health for Darlington County for many years. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was a devoted volunteer for the South Carolina Lung Association, serving as president from 1980 to 1982. He served as president of the Pee Dee branch from 1974 to 1978 and again from 1987 to 1988. He was awarded the distinguished John Martin Medal for distinguished volunteer service in the dedicated tradition set by his father John Martin Sr. In recognition for his many years of distinguished service to the American Lung Association, he was made a life director. Foremost and above all things in his life, he was a devoted husband to his wife Linda for 52 years and was a beloved father, grandfather, friend and a true southern gentleman. As was his main goal in life, together with his wife Linda, they raised four exemplary children who with six grandchildren filled his life with pride and joy. His strong belief that the family that “played” together stayed together was demonstrated by the many wonderful summers that were spent at the family’s summer home at Windy Point in Holden Beach, NC with parents, children, grandchildren and friends. For many years, Harrison’s and Linda’s families from South Carolina and Indiana enjoyed many summer family reunions in the mountains of Gatlinburg, TN, also the site of several of the family’s weddings. His love was family and to be with family. He took great pride in the accomplishments of all of his children and grandchildren and in the years following his retirement, while he showed no favorites, he was particularly blessed to be able to enjoy his two youngest grandchildren each and every day of his life. May his memory be eternal. Surviving are his wife, Linda Study Martin of Hartsville, SC; sons and daughters-in-law, John Harrison (Susan) Martin, III of Florence, SC, Scott Allan (Pam) Martin of Windy Point, NC, Bryan Richard (Stacy) Martin of Hartsville, SC; daughter and son-in-law, Lori Martin (Craig) Morris of Hartsville, SC; grandchildren (spouse), Amanda Raines Martin of Florence, SC, Ellen Elizabeth Martin of Florence, SC, Pressly Hire Martin of Hartsville, SC, Emily Raines Martin of Hartsville, SC, Candace Morris (Jason) Brown of Hartsville, SC, Taylor Alexis Morris of Hartsville, SC; aunt, Frances Martin of Clinton, SC; cousins, Donald and Mary Tucker and Raymond Lynch. In addition to family, many lifelong friends and associates, and the memory of his many friends and family past, he leaves behind two special and devoted friends, his brother-in-law F. Allan Study and beloved friend and companion Donald E. Jones. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and caregivers of the ICU and PCU departments of Carolina Pines for their caring service and support of over the past year. Memorials may be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville Kindergarten, 213 W. Home Avenue, Hartsville, SC and the Darlington County Humane Society, Box 1655, Hartsville, SC. 29551. www.bpafuneralhome.com

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John Harrison Martin, Jr.

May 1, 1930 - May 11, 2009