About Us
History
In March of 1921, J. Mell Martin moved from the community of Equality in Coosa Co., Alabama to Chilton County, Alabama along with his wife, Mary Wilbanks Martin and their four children, Samuel, Leroy, Arabell, and James Carl. He established J. Mell Martin & Sons Funeral Home, the first funeral service business in Chilton County, offering a full line of caskets and burial garments. He began the business with one horse drawn hearse and one motorized hearse. Mr. Martin and his sons operated the funeral home and ambulance service in our surrounding area for many years. In 1945 J. Mell Martin passed away and his two sons, Leroy B. Martin and James Carl Martin continued to operate the business. In 1952 James Carl Martin relocated to Prattville, Alabama, leaving Leroy and his wife, Clyde Jones Martin and their four children, Donald L. "Donny", James M. "Jimmy", Mary Mell, and Robert M. "Bobby" Martin, to continue operating the business as Martin Funeral Home.
Leroy Martin died in 1960 and Clyde Jones Martin continued operating the business with her children. In 1966 the Martin family purchased Speigner Funeral Home and continued to serve the people of Chilton County with both, funeral and ambulance services.
Today, Donny and Bobby Martin operate as a family-owned funeral home.
We strive to offer the very best service to the families we serve and to the citizens of Chilton and surrounding counties.
James "Jimmy" Martin
Previous Owner
Born in Chilton County on December 14, 1938, at Clanton Hospital. He was the son of Leroy B. and Clyde Jones Martin. He graduated from Chilton County High School in 1957, and in 1962, Jimmy graduated from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science. He was a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, and a Licensed Emergency Medical Technician.
He, along with his brothers, Donny and Bobby Martin have continued the legacy of their grandfather by operating Martin Funeral Home. They also provided an Ambulance Service for our community until 1968. Jimmy and Bobby also acquired four cemeteries through the years.
Jimmy was elected to serve our community numerous times and had many accomplishments. He was first elected to office at 21 years old. He served as the Chilton County Coroner for 36 years; and as Alabama State Representative for 17 years; he was the first radio operator for the Clanton Police Department. He was very proud to have been a part of writing Bills and serving on several committees as your State Representative. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Chilton County Rescue Squad, Alabama Funeral Director’s Association, Alabama Embalming Board, Clanton Masonic Lodge and Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 1997-2002, Chilton County Chamber of Commerce member, a Shriner, A York Rite Mason and Jaycees. Through the years he has been recognized by the Alabama District Attorneys Association, Olympic Ministry at West End Baptist Church Outstanding Service, Chilton County High School in 2004, The City of Jemison in 2010, Alabama AFL-CIO in 1999, and Clanton Evening Lion Club in 2008. He served on the Board of Directors for the Y.M.C.A., S.P.A.N. Program and Funeral Service, and four years of service with the Alabama Board of Funeral Services.
Jimmy genuinely cared for people, all people, and wanted to make a difference in their lives. God gave Jimmy a heart and a passion for service, a gift that Jimmy did not take lightly and did not squander.
Jimmy was married to Norma Litz Martin. They had two children – Jim (Vicky) Martin and Kim (Shane) Robinson. He was Blessed to be “PaPa” to seven Grandchildren – David (Jennifer) Gardner, Kassie (Casey) Simmons, Kristin (Kyle) Mims, Kamber (Ryan) Nwransky, Ty (Brandy) Byrd, Shayna (Trent) Wyatt, Shelbie (Jace) Maddox. He was Double Blessed to have sixteen Great-Grandchildren – Mallory Gardner, Emma Grace Gardner, Brady Gardner, Lexie Hayes, Bryan Byrd, Layla Nwransky, Tessa Nwransky, Rylan Smitherman, Kelton Mims, Charlee Kate Byrd, Cari Ann Byrd, Sadie Jo Wyatt, Hudson Nwransky, Ava Grace Smitherman, Memphis Maddox and Mollie Maddox.
