Funeral services for Deacon Leroy Martin were held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at 11 a.m. from Oak Valley Baptist Church. Bishop Dexter Shell was the officiating minister. Burial followed in the

churchyard cemetery. Hudson Funeral Services of Greenville, Ala., directed. Mr. Leroy Martin was born on Dec. 16, 1940 to the late Earnest Cannon and Lettie Mae McClendon in North Carolina.

Leroy was educated in Manhattan, N.Y., and worked at Bailey Seaton Hospital in Staten Island, N.Y., for more than 20 years. On June 27, 1975 he married Odessa Brown in Brooklyn, N.Y. Mr. Leroy attended First Church Of God In Christ in Staten Island, N.Y.

While living in New Jersey, he fellowshipped with House of Prayer Church of God in Christ.

In 2000 the Martin’s moved to Greenville, Ala., and united with Oak Valley Baptist Church and he was ordained as a deacon on Aug. 31, 2003 under the pastorage of Rev. Isaiah Posey.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Grace Cannon; and two brothers, Joe Cannon and Harold Martin.

He leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife, Odessa B. Martin, Greenville, Ala.; daughter, Theresa Martin-Mincey, Wilson, N.C.; son, Darryl Martin, Clifton, N.J.; four grandchildren, Taj (Jessica) Martin and Ian Martin, both of Wilson N.C., and Jade and Jas Martin, both of Clifton, N.J.;  one great-grandchild, Alexis Martin, Wilson, N.C.; three sisters, May Pearl Howze,  Mildred Steveson, both of Charlotte, N.C., and Bernice Bookman, Brooklyn, N.Y.; brother, Roger McCory, Brooklyn, N.Y.; a special aunt, Doris Black, Charlotte, N.C.; four sisters-in-law, Clara Smith, Greenville, Ala., Minnie DeSilvia, Georgiana, Ala., Willie Rene (Clyde) Herbert and Elizabeth (Richard) Herbert, both of Orlando, Fla.; three brothers-in-law, devoted Willie C. Brown III, Millbrook, Ala.,  Ralph Coleman, Greenville, Ala., and Rev. Robert Reid, Pensacola, Fla.; and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.