Grateful for the Life
and Legacy of
Jonathan E. Martin.....
the Lord has always been demonstrated through his generosity and serv
families we serve. He is most definitely the flourishing tree that was plante
the river bearing fruit in every season of his life (Psalm 1:13).
His life left an
lives and his passing left a void in our hearts. His life and legacy will be for
many lives he has touched and the lives yet to be touched.
PAGE 6 • HomeNews - November 2019
In Memory of Jonathan Ellis Marn
19482019
Someone once said that a man’s life can never be measured by the amount of servants he
has, but by the number of people he serves. If that’s the case, then Jonathan Ellis Martin’s life was
a demonstration to the fullest measure. Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries
is just one of the many that “Johnny” served.
Johnny’s friendship with the Children’s Home began over thirty years ago. In the 1980’s, he
and his wife, Maggie, befriended Brenda Hall, a former resident of the Children’s Home. Brenda
met the Martin family when she moved to Pineville to begin nursing school at Louisiana College.
The Martins became her “adopted” family while attending college and their friendship grew to become
a “forever” one. Johnny and Maggie mentored, encouraged and guided her until her untimely
death in 2005.
In 2005, RoyOMartin Lumber Company hosted the very first annual golf tournament in
Brenda’s memory with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Home. Johnny was passionate about the
event and honoring Brenda. Participants from all over the country came to play in the tournament
and support the cause of Johnny and RoyOMartin. The tournament has been held every year since
2005 with proceeds totaling over 2.5 million dollars in donations for the ministries of the Children’s
Home.
Everywhere you look on the LBCH campus, there is evidence of the Martins’ generosity. Just
to mention a few: The Brenda Hall Abney Children’s Learning Center houses our Christian Women’s
Job Corps ministry and tutoring services. The beautiful iron fence that encompasses the perimeter
of the campus and helps keep our children safe. For the past several years, golf tournament proceeds
have benefited our HomePlace ministry which serves homeless children and mothers. New
HomePlace cottages have been built which include Maggie’s Place, Irma’s Place and the soon to
be Mary’s Place.
When Johnny came for a visit or meeting at the Children’s Home, he focused on relationships,
not recognition. His passion always took precedence over his position. He demonstrated his heart
for HomePlace mothers and their children by always taking the time to have a one on one conversation
with each family.
Johnathan Ellis Martin is a friend of God. He is a friend of the Children’s Home. His delight in
service to the children and
planted and deeply rooted by
an indelible mark on our
forever celebrated by the
Inaugural Golf Tournament (2005) Check
Presentation: Johnny with LBCH President and CEO,
Perry Hancock and Darrell Washam,
retired LBCH Director of PR/Development
Fence Dedication: Johnny with Patti Busby, Executive
Assistant at RoyOMartin and LBCH Trustees
2018 Golf Tournament: Johnny with Perry Hancock, and
HomePlace family, Kaitlyn, Taegon and Blaise
Maggie’s Place Dedication: Susan Clark, HomePlace Director,
Johnny and Margie Martin, Perry Hancock and
Marc Eichelberger, LBCH Director of PR/Development.
Irma’s Place Dedication: Perry Hancock, Gene and Irma
Howard and Maggie and Johnny Martin.
2019 (15th Annual) Golf Tournament Check Presentation:
Roy O. Martin, III, Perry Hancock and Maggie Martin.
Johnny with HomePlace resident, Ashli.
Brenda Hall Abney Children’s Learning Center