James E. Martin, 88, of Bryson City, North Carolina, died December 11, 2011. He was born January 17, 1923 in Stevensburg, Virginia to the late Edgar Payne and Agnes Siebert Martin.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Thelma M. Hawkins and a nephew, Kenneth Brown.
He was a US Army Air Force Veteran of WWII, and made the invasion on the beaches of Normandy. His unit, the 324th Service Squadron, built air fields in Italy, France, and Germany.
After the war he worked in the family lumber business in Lignum, VA. He became the owner with the retirement of his father.
Jim was very proud of his German heritage. His Martin and Holtzclaw ancestors came to America in 1714 from Muesen, Germany, and settled at Fort Germanna.
Jim’s father was a founding trustee of the Germanna Foundation, whom Jim succeeded in 1961. Jim was serving as trustee emeritus at the time of his death, marking half a century of service to the heritage he loved.
Besides the Germanna Foundation, Jim was involved in many clubs and organizations including VFW Post 2524, Culpeper, VA; the Masonic Lodge #43, Culpeper, VA; the Rotary Club of Lignum, VA; and a lifetime member of Stevensburg Baptist Church, Stevensburg, VA.
He is survived by his wife Myra P. Martin of Bryson City, North Carolina; by three sisters, Dorothy M. Martin of Madison, VA, Ann M. Browning of Madison , VA, Charlotte M. Scott of Madison, VA.; by three nieces, Ann Green Baise and husband Gary of Falls Church, VA, Karen B. Rice and husband Rick of Madison, VA, Andrea C. Saunders and husband John of Suffolk, VA; by two nephews, David M. W. Brown and wife Mary Ann of Manassas, VA, and Vance Carroll and wife Leigh of Midlothian, VA; by a step-son, Myron P. Hendrix and wife Ami of Burlington, NC; by six step-grandchildren, Robert, Sarah, Taylor and Parker Hendrix, and Austin and Holden Drake all of Burlington, NC, and by six great nieces, Mary Victoria Brown, Elizabeth Martin Brown, Valerie C. Carroll, Michelle Carroll, Kristen Miller, and Rachel Miller .
Funeral Services will be held in the Chapel of Found and Sons, Culpeper Chapel on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 1 PM with Rev. Philip Walker officiating. The family will receive friends Friday from Noon until 1 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Culpeper National Cemetery with military honors.
Pallbearers will be Willy Jett, Russell Aylor, Harvey Rider, Sunny Rogers, Frank Maennle, Mondee Monteith, Lewis Walker and Willy Martin. Honorary Pallbearers will be Neil Steen, Marc Wheat, David Brown, Vance Carroll, Matthew Maennle, Lauren Maennle and Members of the 2011 Swain County High School Football Team.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Angie, Frank, Lauren and Matthew Maennle and Mondee Monteith for their loyal care giving to Jim, also the staff of Mountain View Manor.
Travel to Germany with the Germanna Foundation