William Norvel Goode Martin

William N. (Bill) Martin, age 88 of Decatur, Georgia passed away on Friday, November 15, 2013. Bill was born in Lula, Georgia May 29, 1925 to Noah A. and Ina Buffington Martin. After returning from serving in the US Army Air Corps during WWII as a flight engineer, he attended Georgia Tech and received a BBA from the University of Georgia. Bill was employed by Atlantic Steel Company in Atlanta, prior to forming Martin Electric Motor Service in 1959 which he owned and operated. Bill and Miriam were very active at Kirkwood Baptist and Rainbow Park Baptist Churches. After Miriam's death in 1977, he moved his embership to Mount Carmel Christian Church were he served as a deacon, elder and very active in Jack Ballard's Church Builders, building churches all over the United States and India. He was a Master, Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason and Shriner. Bill was elected Potentate of Yaarab Shrine Temple in Atlanta in 1979. Deeply concerned about crippled and burned children, he served as chair of the Hospital Committee for several years and volunteered countless hours arranging appointments for the care and transportation of the children and their families to hospitals throughout the country. He was instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Shrine hospitals. He served on the Board of Shriners Hospital of Greenville, SC for 10 years. He was later elected to the Emeritus Board of Governors. He enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, traveling in the U. S. and numerous other countries. But he always considered the Florida sands a special vacation spot. Bill was truly a servant leader, caring for, loving, and helping others including family and friends. Bill was predeceased by his parents, and his wife, Miriam Bazemore Martin. He is survived by his son, Michael (Mike) W. Martin (Maureen) Johns Creek; Grandsons, Brian (Melanie) Martin, Alpharetta; Scott (Ramsey) Martin, Decatur; Kevin Martin, and Michael Vann, Decatur; Great grandsons, Matthew and Alexander Martin; sister, Josephine Martin, devoted friend and best buddy, Hazel Nytrom, Dunwoody and her family, sister-in law, Jean Krause (Ken), nephew, Phil Krause, Brentwood, Tn., niece Joan Lehning (Tim), Nashville, Tn., and especially his long time work associate, Larry Ray; and numerous relatives and friends. As one stated, Bill was truly one of the kindest and gentlest men I have ever known. Special thanks goes to the Caregivers and Staff at Dunwoody Senior Living and Evercare Hospice for the wonderful care and love you showed our father. The Family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the church on Tuesday. Bill's funeral service will be at Mount Carmel Christian Church, 6015 Old Stone Mountain Rd., Stone Mountain, Ga. 30087 Tuesday, November 19, at 11:00 AM, with Rev. Art Stansbury officiating. Interment to follow in Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's honor to Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o Yaarab Shrine Temple, 400 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30308. A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory Decatur, GA.


Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033