Rev. Thomas Paul Martin

Rev. Thomas Paul Martin moved to his heavenly home on Sunday, December 25, 2016. He was 81.

Mr. Martin was born April 8, 1935 to the late Robert Lee and Maudie Bell Marchman Martin, and raised in Coffee County. He learned the value of hard work by working in the fields as a young boy and never forgot the lessons he learned. After high school, he met Louise Daughtry and they married January 15, 1955. He served in the U.S. Army, and was employed with Dothan Cigar & Candy Company for several years but retired from Ft. Rucker in 1996.

After accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he accepted the call to preach. He pastored Midland City Community Church from 1969 until 1979. While working fulltime at Ft. Rucker, he and Louise started a new church. On March 1, 1980, they celebrated their first homecoming at Faith Tabernacle Community Church where he served as pastor until he retired in 2013. He was a member of the Living Word of Faith Fellowship for over 50 years where he became the Secretary/Treasurer, and retired as Vice President in May 2016.  He was an accomplished musician and singer.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Louise Martin, a daughter-in-law Nancy Martin, six sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Martin; four sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Dawn Martin, Faron and Gloria Martin, Phillip and Michelle Martin, Joel and Tracy Martin; two step-daughters, Rhonda Segrest, husband Johnny, and Ramona Adams; eighteen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren, plus two on the way; a brother Edsel Martin, wife Nita of Panama City, FL; several great nieces, nephews and cousins.

Homegoing services will be 2 pm Wednesday December 28, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Elton Haddock, Rev. Marcus Ramer and Rev. Ricky Martin officiating, and Robert Byrd directing. Dad will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 pm Tuesday December 27, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers will be Rev. Dale Worley, Rev. Donnie Jackson, Rev. Tim Bush and Rev. Chuck Spivey.

Flowers are being accepted or memorial contributions may be made to The Living Word of Faith Fellowship, 3515 T Street, Panama City, FL 32405 or Covenant Hospice, 1512 West Main Street, Dothan, AL 36301 or Hudson International Ministries, PO Box 700933, Tulsa, OK 74170-0900.

The family would like to thank all his caregivers with SouthCARE, and staff of Covenant Hospice for taking such good care of our dad.