James Martin

James Hagood Martin, 91, died in his home in Rock Hill on Monday, 12/9/13. He was born to the late John Hagood and Alice Irene Martin on 9/27/22 in Jacksonville, FL. He married the late Martha Bailey Smith, his wife of 52 years, in 1946. James graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology on the G.I. Bill in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering. James took a position with Reeves Brothers Printing and Finishing in Spartanburg as a plant chemist before moving his family to Rock Hill in 1959. There he worked his way up in Verona Dyestuffs (later Mobay then Bayer Corporation) where he retired as branch manager in 1982. James entered military service during WWII and became a bombardier with the 8th Air Force in Europe. He continued to serve his country in the USAF Reserves and retired as a Lt. Colonel. James Martin was an avid golfer and a member of the Rock Hill Country Club since 1959. He served four terms as their president and was a founder of the OMEGA Club: Old Men Enjoy Golf Always! James was an active member of St. John's United Methodist Church until his death. That is where he met and married his Sunday school teacher, Mary Jean Faris Ligon, in 1999. James was predeceased by his daughter Marsha Knight Martin in 1995. He is survived by daughter Elizabeth Koin (Andy); grandchildren Sarah Allen (Ritchie), Jay Leadbitter, and Anna Batchler (Chris); and three beautiful great granddaughters Piper, Mollie, and Bella, all of the Columbia area. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 13, at Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home at 1:00 in Rock Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/) in his name.

Service Information

Friday, December 13th, 2013 1:00pm, Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home