Mary Martin

MARTIN ? Mary Sue Porter Martin of Birmingham, AL (Mrs. William Ira Martin) died surrounded by her family at Embracing HospiceCare on Friday, September 28, 2007. Known as a wonderful wife, mother, and friend, she valued family, church, and community. She and her husband had a neighborhood drugstore; their home and business were open and welcoming to all who knew them. She was born the eldest daughter of Ernest Edward and Jewell Childress Porter of Thorsby, AL on August 20, 1916. She enjoyed a loving childhood with her sister, Hattie Lee Kelling and the late Frank Porter, her baby brother, on the family farm and peach orchard. She graduated from the Thorsby Institute where she excelled in drama and vocal performance. She received a business degree from Massey Business College following which she worked for a law office in Clanton, AL. In 1940 she moved to Birmingham, AL to work as a secretary with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.). She married the late William Ira Martin of Thorsby, AL on June 23, 1945 at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. Ira Martin was the pharmacist and Owner of W.I. Martin Drug Company before finishing his career as Director of Pharmacy for the Birmingham Baptist Medical Center-Princeton and preceptor with the Samford University School of Pharmacy. Mr. Martin died unexpectedly on August 25, 1976. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were dedicated members of Hunter Street Baptist Church of Birmingham. Mrs. Martin was among the small core of 225 Hunter Street members that moved the church from the Bush Hills location to Hoover, AL in 1987. Hunter Street Baptist Church is now a thriving congregation of over 8,000 people. Mrs. Martin celebrated her 90th birthday at the church last summer with a reception handled by Mr. and Mrs. Beecher (Ann) Creasman. Over the years Mrs. Martin was active in the Jefferson County Pharmaceutical Association Auxiliary serving as President from 1947-1948. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 31 years, William Ira Martin; her parents Mr. & Mrs. Frank (Jewell) Porter; and her brother, Frank Edward Porter. She is survived by her younger sister, Mrs. Hattie Lee Kelling of Davidson, NC; daughters, Mrs. Linda Martin Lane and husband, Chris Lane of Cincinnati, OH and Rebecca Ann Duvall and husband, Rev. Robert W. Duvall of Lawrenceville, GA; and two grandchildren, Martin Wesley Duvall and Rachel R. Duvall both of New York, NY; extended family members, Mr. & Mrs. Beecher (Ann) Creasman of Birmingham, AL and their children, Ira Creasman, Wayne Creasman and Missy Bradford; numerous nieces, nephews, and beloved friends. The Funeral Service Celebrating the Life of Mrs. Martin will be held on Monday, October 1, 2007 at 12:00 o?clock in the Chapel of the Hunter Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL with Dr. Buddy Gray officiating. Interment will follow at the Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham with family and close friends in attendance. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:30AM until 12:00 o?clock. Members of The Joy-Friendship Sunday School Class will serve as an Honorary Escort and asked to assemble at the church by 11:30 A.M. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 11:00AM at Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, GA, where Mrs. Martin lived, with Rev. Chuck Christie and Rev. Sandra Booth officiating. The family has requested that those desiring may make donations to the Hunter Street Baptist Church of Hoover, AL or the School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL in Memory of Mrs. Mary Sue Porter Martin.Read Obituary