Willie B Martin

Mr. Willie Benjamin Martin, 93, retired City of Columbia employee and resident of Cherry St., died Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at Rosewood Manor. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., Friday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. V.J. Crumley officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday after 12 noon. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Lauderdale County, Alabama native was the son of the late George Willis Martin and Nellie Beth Hayes Martin. He was married to Opal Laverne Hayes Martin who preceded him in death in 1988. Survivors include one son, Billy Gene Martin, Sr. of Columbia; four daughters, Mrs. Ruby Mae (Lester) Ragsdale, Mrs. Margaret Fay (Charles) Cole both of Columbia, Mrs. Melba Joyce Webb of Lynnville, Mrs. Hazel Ruth Iglesias of Joshua Tree, California; several grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Robert Martin and two brothers, Howard Martin, Cecil Martin and one sister, Lilly Wallace. Grandsons will be pallbearers. Joe Willard Steward will be an Honorary pallbearer.