A celebration of life memorial service for William Thomas “Tom” Martin will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, May 19 at Broadmoor Baptist Church Chapel, Madison. He passed away at age 77 on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Graveside services will at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 20 at Indianola City Cemetery.
Tom was born April 3, 1937, to William John and Beatrice Morgan Martin in Sunflower County and lived there most of his life. He attended Moorhead High School, Sunflower Junior College (now Mississippi Delta Community College), Delta State College and received his D.D.S. degree in 1961 from University of Tennessee College of Dentistry.
In 1961 he married Carolyn Frances Chambers of Memphis, TN, and began his career as a dentist in the Army. He served from 1961 to 1963 in Fort Dix, New Jersey. In 1963 he returned to Mississippi and practiced dentistry in Drew, MS for the next four years. During his time in Drew, he was also a member and president of the Jaycees.
In 1966 Tom moved his dental practice to Indianola where he worked until he retired in 1999. He was a long time member of the Indianola Rotary Club. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he taught 12 year old boys, and later was substitute teacher for 2 adult classes. He went on several dental mission trips to Panama and Honduras.
During his career he was president of the District II Dental Society (Delta Area), member of the Greenville Dental Society, Mississippi Dental Association, and American Dental Association, receiving a lifetime membership award from both associations.
Tom moved to Madison, Mississippi in 2001 after his second heart surgery in 1999 and lived there until he died. He lived a life of grandchildren, golf, and reading for his final years. When his grandchildren were younger they called him the “Sure Pappy”. They would tell each other that all requests were answered with one word……Sure! He was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church and the Happy Heart Sunday School Class.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Chambers Martin; children Dena Jean Martin of Canton, Cindy Hollingsworth (Scott) of Madison, and Renee Linebarger (Charles Jackson “CJ”) of Madison; grandchildren Jon Thomas Martin, Anna Grayson Smith, Martin Linebarger, Barry, Morgan and Ashley Hollingsworth, Malynn and Jackson Linebarger; brother William John Martin, Jr (Carolyn Jefcoat) and niece Stephanie Martin Fletcher (Josh), both of Jonesboro, AK. He was preceded in death by his parents, and nephew William John Martin III.
Visitation will be Monday, May 19, in Madison at Broadmoor Baptist Church Chapel at 11:30. A visitation will also be at 11:30 on Tuesday, May 20 at Boone-Card Funeral Home, Indianola.
Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.