Nancy Martin

Nancy Louise Martin, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother closed her eyes here on earth and opened them in the presence of her Lord and Savior on September 6, 2019. Nancy was born March 5, 1937 in Lake City, SC to John Raymond and Nettie Sophia (Simmons) McClam, and they both were there waiting to lead her into Heaven when Nancy arrived. Nancy grew up in Lake City, a loving home in a small town with a closeness in the community. She was very active in school and her church, First Baptist of Lake City, where she accepted the Lord into her heart at a young age. In high school, she met the love of her life, Billy Martin, and they would be inseparable for the rest of their lives. In 1954, she graduated from Lake City High School and just a few weeks later, on June 3, 1954, she and Billy were married in Dillon, SC. Billy enlisted in the Army which started Nancy’s chapter in life as a proud career military wife. Her organizational skills and her knack for making a home during assignment transfers and promotions made every move seamless and flawless for both Billy and the children. They moved to several locations including Germany, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Nebraska and Texas. In every transfer, Nancy had a way of quietly and efficiently assessing every opportunity as a chance to serve her family, her Lord and her community and her positive attitude was always a calming influence in times that could get a little hectic! After Billy’s retirement from the military, he heeded the call to become a Pastor with Nancy at his side supporting him in every way. Her many years of coordinating activities and making friends in new places during Billy’s military service enabled her to be the perfect pastor’s wife to the congregation at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Pittsburg, TX and, for the last 20 years, at Emmanuel Baptist Church here in Terrell. She loved to sing, and her voice was a welcome and beautiful addition to the church choir and at every gathering. Nancy was also incredibly thoughtful, and she was never too busy that she didn’t remember to call and send cards on birthdays and anniversaries as well as other important dates and milestones in her family and friends’ lives. Nancy adored her family and gathering them together was the highlight of any day for her. She was a talented baker (with her famous banana pudding known far and wide!) and her incredible collection of hundreds of cookbooks allowed Nancy to surprise and spoil Billy, family, friends and church members with her sweet desserts and dishes that were always delicious. A beautiful woman who was far and away the embodiment of a true Proverbs 31 wife and mother, Nancy’s smile and wonderful personality will be missed by all who loved her. The unconditional and whole-hearted love that she always exhibited to Billy, her children, grandchildren and her friends will be the eternal legacy that all will carry forward into future generations until we are all reunited with her in Heaven. Nancy’s memory will continue to be celebrated by her husband of over 65 years, Rev. Billy Martin of Terrell; children: Connie Gibson and husband, Ken, of Ft. Smith, Ark., Diane Hopkins of Sevierville, Tenn., and Robin Taylor and husband, Lance, of Royse City, Tex.; grandchildren: Jake and wife, Amanda, Heather, Adam and wife, Tiffany, Sara and husband, Nick, and Brian and wife, Heather; great grandchildren: Ella, Addy, Ally, Caleb, Hanna, Brayden, and Austin as well as many other extended family and a host of friends made during her lifetime. Nancy’s funeral service will be at 11:00am, Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Terrell with interment to follow at Oakland Memorial Park. Her family will receive friends 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Tuesday, Sept. 10, at Max Slayton Funerals and Cremations. For those wishing and in honor of Nancy’s love for others hearing the Gospel, donations may be made to the Gideons International at www.gideons.org. Nancy lived her life placing importance on the things that mattered most and she truly felt the words that the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

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Nancy Martin

March 5, 1937 - September 6, 2019