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REV. VERLON A. MARTIN, SR.

Rev. Verlon A. Martin, Sr., 94, of Hayesville went home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on Sunday, October 19, 2003 at a Murphy care facility. He was born July 25, 1909 in Clay County, where he had lived most of his life, to the late Oliver and Hallie Canup Martin. Verlon was ordained in 1945 to carry the message of his Saviour. He had pastored churches in North Carolina and Georgia including Fires Creek Baptist Church of which he was a member. His work for the Lord included his radio ministry, which he began in the fifties at WDEH in Sweetwater, TN. When WKRK came to Murphy, he began his ministry with the “Walking In The Light” broadcast, which he continued until two and one-half years ago. He was a member of the Tri-State Preachers Fellowship and the Southwide Baptist Fellowship of Chattanooga, TN. Rev. Martin toured the Holy Land and other Biblical lands with Dr. John R. Rice and friends in 1972 and 1973. He was also a heavy equipment operator starting in the forties and worked for construction companies in the Southeast. He loved and enjoyed his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Gar and Harley Martin.

Surviving are his wife of 72 years, Edna Ledford Martin; two sons, Verlon Martin, Jr. and his wife, Annie Lee, and James Horace Martin and his wife, Mary Jo, all of Hayesville; a brother, Rev. Clarence Martin of Hayesville; three grandchildren, Cindy Gaddis and her husband, Donald of Murphy, June York and her husband, Jerry of Hayesville, and Barron Martin and his wife, Amanda of Cleveland, GA, and four great grandchildren, Jill York, Todd Gaddis, Amanda Gaddis, and Dylan Martin. Also, surviving are many preacher friends, and many friends at Fires Creek Baptist Church and Mission Hill Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 22) in the Chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with the Revs. Homer Wilson, Carl Roper, and Deron Shuler officiating. Burial in the Fires Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers: Barron Martin, Edward Roach, Lloyd Ledford, Jerry York, and Todd and Donald Gaddis. Honorary pallbearers: Rev. Dallas Crowder, Rev. Aud Brown, and members of the Tri-State Preachers Fellowship.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-9:00 Tuesday evening (Oct. 21) at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Fires Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 239 Brendle Cove Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of all arrangements.