Wendell L Martin

Wendell Lawrence Martin, 77, of Madisonville, KY, transitioned from Earth to Glory on Thursday, December 14, 2023.  To his family, he was affectionally known as “Rabbit,” “Pedro,” “Buddy,” and “Mr. Kool.”  He was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, on August 18, 1946, to the late Odell and Helen Martin. 

 

Wendell confessed his faith in Christ at an early age and joined Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Earlington, KY.  Following graduation from J.W. Million High School, where he was the star basketball player, he joined the Navy; once he completed his military service, he and his wife, Brenda, moved to Chicago, IL, where he was employed as a Certified  Public Accountant (CPA).  During his years in Chicago, he was a faithful member of the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, trustee, and Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir and helped out wherever else he saw a need.  During this time, he visited Jerusalem and was Baptized in the Jordan River.

 

In August 2007, Wendell returned to Madisonville, KY , and became a Pleasant Grove Baptist Church member.  He continued to be a faithful servant  serving as a deacon, choir member, Sunday School teacher, and youth mentor until his health began to fail him.  While in the choir, his favorite song to sing was “Walking Up the Kings Highway”.  The song wasn’t just a song he loved to sing but a personal testimony of his love for the Lord.

 

 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Larry Martin and Gregory Martin and a sister, Carolyn Martin Coleman.

He will be remembered as a godly, loving, and patient man of wisdom by his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Brenda L. Martin, two daughters, Nikita M. Martin of Hammond, IN , and Lori Meshale Martin of Earlington, KY, a granddaughter, Brianna N. Kinard of Hammond, IN and four grandsons, Antonio Anderson, Armeen Anderson, Amari Anderson, and De’Areon Duncans all of Earlington, KY; five great-grandchildren, Amya, Kylen, Willow, Corvez, and  Kaitlyn, a godson, Pastor Sergio Dixon (Cynthia) of Chicago, IL, a special brother Robert Victor (Sheila) of Chicago, IL; one brother, Kenneth Martin of Earlington, KY; one sister, Debra Jean Martin of Madisonville, KY and a host of relatives and faithful friends.