Mr. Ray Martin

Ray grew up in Bogue Chitto, MS with his parents and sister, Eva. He moved to Natchez and worked at a family owned cleaners before joining the Navy during World War II. After boot camp Ray was sent to a college in Boone, Iowa to attend school specializing in his field on the LST, or tank landing ship. He was later part of the invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach while aboard the LST. Upon the LST they practiced maneuvers in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coastline docking at various ports, where he and Nita continued their courtship before being sent to Europe. During his leave in December of 1943, He and Nita met in Brookhaven and were married. After his honorably discharge from the Navy in October of 1945, Ray and Nita continued their education together at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College. They made their home in Jackson and Gulfport where Ray began working for the Veterans Administration, IRS and later the Small Business Administration, during which time he continued his education earning a law degree from Jackson Law School. He retired from the SBA in1978. Ray was a member of Woodville Heights Baptist Church, Westview Baptist Church and most recently, Southern Hills Baptist Church. During his church memberships he was Chairman of Deacons, worked on various committees and volunteered at the VA. His wife of 63 years, Nita Martin, parents, Roy and Jane Keys, and his sister Eva precedes him in death. He is survived by his son, David; daughter-in-law, Terry; granddaughters, Allyson Reich, Rachel Martin, great grandson, Riley Reich and his special friend, Mable Robison. A visitation will be held from 1pm until the 2pm service Wednesday, March15, 2017 at Chancellor Funeral Home, Byram. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park Cemetery South, McClure Road, Jackson, MS.