Bro. Hugh A. Martin

SERVICES: FRIDAY, MAY 15, 201511:00 A. M. SPRING CREEK BAPTIST CHURCHVISITATION: THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015 5:00 - 8:00 P. M. MCCLAIN-HAYS FUNERAL HOMEINTERMENT: SPRING CREEK CEMETERYOFFICIATING: REV. STUART PURVISREV. PHILLIP JACKSONREV. DON SAVELLBrother Hugh A. Martin, 88, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 11, 2015.  As Jesus promised, “whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”  We know that he is celebrating in Heaven today.  Bro. Martin lived in Philadelphia, MS from 1979 to 2014. Hugh was born on September 15, 1926 in Clinton, MS.  He went on to graduate from high school in Rosedale, MS where he was a member of the basketball team and the band.  He moved to Greenwood, MS after high school and joined the U.S. Navy.  He served two tours of duty during World War II and the Korean War.  During this time, he met the love of his life, Jean Holder Martin.  They were married in Greenwood, MS on August 5, 1950.  God called him to preach in 1952 and Hugh surrendered to full time ministry at that time. He attended Mississippi College from 1953-56 and graduated with honors.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies. He also graduated with honors from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1967 with a Masters in Theology. He had the privilege of pastoring 11 churches during his ministry. They include: Singleton Baptist Church in Winston County, MS (1953-54), Bethel Baptist Church in Winston County, MS (1954-56), Madden Baptist Church in Leake County, MS (1956-57), High Hill Baptist Church in Neshoba County, MS (1956-59), Gulfport Heights Baptist Church in Gulfport, MS (1959-67), Valence Street Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA (1967-71), Emmanuel Baptist Church in Greenville, MS (1971-79), Spring Creek Baptist Church in Neshoba County, MS (1979-94), New Black Jack Baptist Church in Neshoba County, MS (1994-99), Fellowship Baptist Church in Neshoba County, MS (2000-02), Laurel Hill Baptist Church in Neshoba County, MS (2003-08). He also served as the Pulpit Supply Preacher at Bond Baptist Church in Neshoba County, MS from 2010 to 2012. Bro. Martin preached in hundreds of churches during his life. Many of these churches were in America but he also went on mission trips to the Philippines, China, Japan, India and Honduras.  He spread the loving and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to thousands of people during his ministry. Many men, women and children were touched by God through his ministry and made decisions to surrender their lives to Christ.  Also, many others dedicated their lives to Christian full time service under his ministry. God gave Bro. Martin several talents.  He was talented musically. He could play the piano, accordion and trumpet – all by ear. He was artistic.  This was evidenced by his “chalk talks” to his church members as he illustrated the Word of God.  He could truly preach the Word.  God gave him a unique way of articulating his sermons to reach the lost and unchurched.  His passion in life was to tell people about Jesus.  Nothing was more important to him – he truly was a man of God. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Delia Martin, his loving wife, Jean Holder Martin, his eldest son, David L. Martin, and his three brothers, Robert, Wilson and Cliff Martin.  He is survived by his son, Steve W. Martin and his daughter-in-law, Susan Ferrell Martin of Oxford, MS; three granddaughters, Stephanie Martin of Orlando, FL, Bethanie Omiecinski (Jeff) of Chicago, IL and LaJeana Maxwell (Benjamin) of Titusville, FL; five great-grandchildren, Henry Omiecinski, Grace, Blake, Ashten, and Paisley Maxwell. We owe a debt of gratitude to the many wonderful people at Brookdale Senior Living Solutions and Camellia Hospice of Oxford, MS.  In particular we want to thank Jennifer Rambo Theobald of Camellia Hospice and Drs. Jeff Evans, Milton Hobbs, Dan Shell and Lindsay Shipp.  They were so compassionate and helpful in this difficult time.Pallbearers were Larry Fulton, Nolan Watkins, Robert Barnett, James Johnson, Lynn Yates and Rob Fulton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Bro. Martin to Spring Creek Baptist Church, 12901 Road 614, Philadelphia, MS 39350.