Willie King Martin

Willie King Martin born in Lyman, MS September 14, 1913 to Payton C. and Rosa Damphman King. She was married to Calvin Martin, Sr. of Fernwood, MS for fifty eight years. She was a Cafeteria Manager for Harrison County School System for 30 years and was a pioneer in her field, starting with cooking on a wood stove at Lyman School. She was a member of Nugent Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member, soloist for numerous weddings and funerals, and served on the church board. She was an avid gardener and flower arranger as well as an outstanding cook. She was preceded in death by her parents Payton C. King of Lyman, MS and Rosa Damphman King, her husband Calvin Martin, Sr., brothers Rufus and Walter King, sisters Nola Mae Long, Delphine Leuenberger, Bessie Wenger, and Mary Hackettt. She is survived by her son Calvin Martin, Jr., wife Claudia of Greenville, SC; their children Tania Newton and husband Jason, John Martin and wife Cindy. Her daughter Rosa Martin O'Bannon and husband Louis, their sons Louis Hewes O'Bannon, III, and wife Christine of Gulfport, MS and Dr. Shawn Patrick O'Bannon of Birmingham, AL, and 6 great grandsons. Willie died September 14, 2008 in Hattiesburg at the Hattiesburg Convalescent Center. She was a resident of the care center for eight years and a special thank you to the excellent care she received from her care givers. They became a second family for her and she will be greatly missed there as she was always happy and singing, she had a, "A Song in Her Heart". A private service was held Wednesday morning. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on O'Neal Road in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. The family prefers any memorials to be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave 7th Floor, NY, NY 10001, for further study and research.