LORELLE FRANCK MARTIN
Sept. 17, 1916-March 30, 2014
Mrs. Lorelle Franck Martin, one of the Lord's sweet saints, went to be with the Lord Sunday, March 30.
She was a native of Onslow County, and was born Sept. 17, 1916, as the first daughter to Edward Lee and Gertrude Thompson Franck.
The service to celebrate Mrs. Martin's life will be held at the First Baptist Church of Mount Olive at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, with the Rev. Dr. Dennis R. Atwood, senior pastor, and the Rev. Felicia Fox, associate pastor of students and families, officiating. Interment will follow at Martin-Price Cemetery on N.C. 55 West.
The family will receive friends at Tyndall Funeral Home, Mount Olive, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, April 1, and at other times, at the Martin home.
Mrs. Martin moved to Mount Olive when she married her husband, Robert R. Martin, a native of Mount Olive.
She began her career teaching at Mount Olive Elementary School.
She and Robert had two children, Dr. Virginia L. Martin and Robert "Bob" R. Martin Jr.
Soon after their marriage, she moved her membership from a Methodist church to First Baptist Church of Mount Olive, where Mr. Martin was an active member. She soon became a dedicated member of First Baptist Church, where she served the Lord in many capacities, including being the first "woman deacon" to serve communion as the chair of the diaconate; as president of the Woman's Missionary Union, she was an organizer of the Girl's Auxiliary; a Sunday school teacher for many years; a member of a pastor search committee; and served on almost all of the committees of First Baptist Church at some point in time before she became ill a few years ago. Mrs. Martin graduated from Greensboro College with her bachelor's degree and East Carolina University with her master's degree. She did further graduate studies at Appalachian State University and Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C.
Mrs. Martin retired from Mount Olive College (University of Mount Olive) as chairman of the science department in 1987 after completing 30 years of service, and was named professor emeriti in 1989.
For many years, she was "the science department" because in the beginning of Mount Olive College, she taught all five of the sciences that were taught at that time.
Some of the awards and professional memberships she attained while at Mount Olive College were active officer of the Collegiate Academy of the North Carolina Academy of Sciences; founder and sponsor of the Henderson Science Club; adviser to the Biology Honorary Society (Tri Beta); in 1989, the biology lab was named in her honor; Dr. E. Lee Glover, a former student, established the annual Martin Lecture in her honor in 1993; received the Founder's Leadership Award in 2002; and was named an Honorary Alumnus by the Alumni Association in 2002.
Other recognitions were Woman of the Year Award in 1976 given by the Mount Olive Business and Professional Women's Club; Senior Citizens Award by Mount Olive Jaycees in 1984; Volunteer of the Year from Carver Elementary School in 1990; Governor's Volunteer Services Award in 1992; Governor's Volunteer Services to Children Award in 1993; named Retired Senior Volunteer of Wayne County in 2003; and named Paul Harris Fellow by Mount Olive Rotary in 2006.
She was a member of Mount Olive Exchange Club since 1993, and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.
She was founder of the Read to Succeed program at Carver Elementary School.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her husband, Robert R. Martin Sr.; her only sister, Marguerite F. Royster; her son, Robert R. Martin Jr.; and her sister-in-law, Rachel Reaves Martin.
Her surviving family includes her daughter, Dr. Virginia L. Martin of the home; her daughter-in-law, Merle A. Martin of Pelham, Ga.; and many cousins.
In addition to her family, she is survived by many students and friends whose lives she had touched over her 97 years of life.
Mrs. Martin was a dear sweet lady loved by many friends, both old and young, and her caretakers whom she loved and appreciated.
Flowers will be welcomed, but contributions may be made to the Robert R. Martin Family Endowment for Missions, North Carolina Baptist Foundation Inc., 201 Convention Drive, Cary, N.C., 27511-4257; First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 239, Mount Olive, N.C., 28365; or Lorelle and Robert Martin Endowment, University of Mount Olive, 634 Henderson St., Mount Olive, N.C., 28365.
A Tyndall service.
Published in Obituaries on March 31, 2014 1:48 PM