Mr. James Freddie Martin, age 100 of Stuart, passed away Saturday, March 27, 2021, at his home surrounded by family. He was born in Draper, NC on January 10, 1921, to the late Harbour Reed Martin and Minnie Etta Fain Martin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 72 years, Minnie Strickland Martin; five sisters, Annie Martin, Etta Martin, Eunice Martin, Frances Martin Crowder, Ethlyne Martin Gilley; and three brothers, Samuel P., W. Hobert, and Joel C. Martin. He graduated from Stuart High School in 1941 and attended National Business College in Roanoke. He served in the US Army during WWII and had retired from DuPont with over 37 years of service. He was a member of Stuart Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir for over 40 years. He was a musician and loved to sing, especially the National Anthem. He and his wife loved traveling, having visited all 50 states and 25 to 30 foreign countries. While traveling they always stopped to go to church and made numerous friends through square dancing. They won numerous awards all over the world square dancing. He had called over 40 National Square Dance conventions consecutively from California to New York. He is enshrined in the NC and VA Square Dance Hall of Fame and was instrumental in getting the state dance of Virginia to become the square dance.
Surviving is a daughter and son-in-law, Darlene and Bobby Blake of Durham, NC; two grandchildren, Rebecca Blake, Elizabeth Blake Beyle and husband, Jon; five great-grandchildren, Taylor Rebecca Beyle, James Christopher Lewis and wife, Abby, Jordan Elizabeth Beyle, Blake Andrew-Horton Lewis, Jon Ward Beyle and fiancé, Melissa; one great-great-grandchild, Levi Mathias Lewis; and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at 12:30 at Patrick Memorial Gardens with Pastor Danny Redman officiating. Mr. Martin will lie in state at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart on Monday, March 29, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stuart Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 944, Stuart, VA 24171 or to Mountain Valley Hospice, 730 E. Church St., Suite 13, Martinsville, VA 24112. Online condolences may be sent to www.moodyfuneralservices.com.
