Dr. Arthur M. Martin Jr., of Butler, Ala., died on October 23, 2018, at River Oaks Hospital in Jackson MS.
“Bubba,” as he is known by his family and friends (or “Dr. Bubba” by his professional staff), was born in Savannah Ga. on November 26, 1934, the eldest child of the Rev. Arthur M Martin and Mary Grubbs Martin.
After public school in Winnsboro SC (Mt Zion Institute), he attended Davidson College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1956. He received his MD in pathology from Duke University, after which he served in the US Army, with a tour in Vietnam.
Dr. Martin served on the pathology staff of Duke Hospital in Durham, N.C., Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, S.C., Danville Memorial Hospital in Danville VA, and Rush Health Systems in Meridian MS. He retired to Butler, Ala., where he helped to expand facilities and services of a Rush Systems affiliate Choctaw General Hospital.
“Bubba” was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Joseph Bacon Martin III, and by former wife, Anne Beckman Rumer.
He is survived by his children, Mary Ruth Martin Bird (Rick) of Westland MI, Arthur M Martin III of Mt Pleasant SC, Michael Benjamin Martin and John William Martin of Raleigh NC, brothers James Grubbs Martin (Dottie) and Neal Anderson Martin (Mary) of Mooresville NC, grandchildren Ryan Bird (Rachel) and Erik Bird of San Francisco CA and Melissa Bird of Madison WI, and sister-in-law Joan Martin (Pat Burgess) of Charlotte, as well as by numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
In addition, he is survived by his step-family: daughter Teresa Cooper Drinkard (Bill) of Ward AL, grandchildren Brian Robinson (Kristin) of Tuscaloosa AL, and Staci Vice of Chelsea AL, great-grandchildren Caroline, Porter, and Matthew Robinson, and Audrey and Cathleen Luker.<
He is also survived by two former wives, Jacquelyn Harris Martin of Butler and Diane Lethco Foster of Raleigh.
A service of witness to the resurrection and to celebrate Bubba's life will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Meridian MS, on Tuesday, October 30. A private interment will be in Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, Ga. at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Joe Martin ALS Foundation, 100 N Tryon St #3420, Charlotte NC 28202, or Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4223 Poplar Springs Drive, Meridian MS 39305.
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