Ludie Martin's Obituary
Ludie Martin Obituary
Ludie Martin, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away peacefully on Saturday November 17, 2018, one year and 13 days after his beloved wife of 65 years, Laverne Martin, passed away. Ludie was born on November 27, 1930 to Columbus and Mattie Williams Martin in Durand County, Georgia. He was one of thirteen brother and sisters.
Ludie worked on his parent’s farm in his early years, while making a 3 mile daily walk to school. He finished his high school education in Atlanta Georgia, while working part-time at Rich’s Department Store, driving a truck and learning how to make candy. He lived as a teenager at the YMCA. While working in Atlanta, Ludie attended a dance at Grady Memorial Nursing School where he met and fell in love with Laverne Ridley, who was attending the school with her sisters. After nursing school graduation, Laverne and her sisters moved to Detroit, working for the Detroit Receiving Hospital, for a while but eventually moving to Chicago. Ludie also moved to Chicago to work for various hospitals and restaurants, eventually obtaining the title of Chef. While in Chicago, Ludie asked for Laverne’s hand in marriage in 1952. Ludie and Laverne lived in Chicago for 23 years and eventually moved to their current home in Hazel Crest in 1976.
As a dutiful father, Ludie always worked to provide for his family. With three children, there were times when he had to work as many as three jobs to allow LaVerne to stay home with their young children. As a loving father, Ludie provided a loving nurturing environment that allowed his three children to thrive educationally and spiritually. All three graduated from college and became productive professionals. Ludie was eventually named Chief Chef at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, where he retired after more than 35 years of service. He was most proud of being recognized by the Chicago SunTimes for his award winning dishes such as “shrimp de jonghe”. After retirement, Ludie joined LaVerne in their ceramics business, where he created original ceramic pieces which won competitive prizes. Ludie never lost the lessons he learned as a young boy on the farm, and kept a bountiful garden full of vegetables and fruits, and a meticulous lawn.
Ludie accepted Christ as his Savior in the 1980’s and joined J. Claude Allen Methodist Church, where he served as an elder for several years. He was active in mentoring young men, evangelizing to the needy and feeding the hungry.
Ludie will always be remembered for his devotion to his wife and family and the church. Those that knew him also will remember his enjoyment in preparing gourmet meals for large family and church groups. He also loved loading up the family car to visit his brother and sisters, Floyd, Florence, Mildred, Gaynelle and Easter in California, Georgia and Kansas.
Ludie is survived by his two daughters Patricia Martin and Victoria Martin Phipps and his son Stephen Martin, and their spouses Darryl Phipps, and Gerianne Izen Martin. He was grandfather to Christopher Phipps, and his wife Elisha, Nathaniel Martin, and his wife Andrea, Alexis Phipps Boyd and her husband Cedric, and Elizabeth Martin. Ludie was great grandfather to Elijah Boyd, Drake Phipps, and Maria Martin. Ludie is also survived by sisters Mildred Neal, Gaynell Moore, and brother Floyd Martin. He used to tell us all the time that we should work as hard as we can at whatever task we are given, because “Good help is hard to find”. We know that God has welcomed Ludie to his heavenly home because Ludie loved God, and he was a great help to those he loved, those he worked with, and those he served as a servant of God.
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