Benjamin "BAM" Martin

Funeral service will take place at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Greater Coleman Temple C.O.G.I.C., 2405 Bay Road. Supt. Hurley J. Coleman, Jr. will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at Browne's Mortuary, 441 N. Jefferson Ave., on Friday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m., where the family will be present at 6:00 p.m. for the family hour. Beloved husband, father and grandfather went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Age 64 years. Ben loved going to church, reading his Bible, spending time with his grandkids, talking, cooking, music, watching TV, playing solitaire, laughing and making others laugh, tending to his plants and he took great pride in keeping up his yard. Ben was born on December 21, 1944 in Grady, AR to the late David Martin, Jr. and Maybelle (Bosley) Martin. He attended Coleman High School in Pine Bluff, AR and graduated in May of 1964. In 1965, he came to Saginaw, MI and was employed by General Motors Grey Iron Foundry until his retirement in 1991. He was a member of UAW Local 668. On August 28, 1971, he married Ernestine Montgomery. She survives him. To this union, three children were born: two sons, Andre' (Antoinette) and Antoine (Tiffany) Martin, and one daughter, Angel B. Martin, all of Saginaw, MI. Ben also leaves behind his four precious grandchildren, Jordan, Amber, Sanaa' and Andre', whom he truly adored and they loved their "Pa Pa." Besides his wife, children and grandchildren, he leaves behind his six brothers, David Martin III "Junior" of Bastroph, LA, Fred Martin (Carolyn), Willie Martin (Bobbie), Isaac Martin, Joseph Martin and Sammie Martin, all of Pine Bluff, AR; five sisters, Mabel Scott "Day Day" of Saginaw, MI, Estella Brandon of Bastroph, LA, Annie Ray Thompson (Willie), Gertrude Martin and Gloria Martin, all of Pine Bluff, AR; one aunt, Annie Ray Jordan of Pine Bluff, AR; five brothers-in-law, Leonard "Sonny" Montgomery (Mildred), Clarence "Earl" Montgomery, Supt. Bobbie Price, all of Saginaw, MI, Bennie Gooden and Terrence Adams of Clarksdale, MS; three sisters-in-law, Geneva Martin and Pearlie Johnson of Saginaw, MI and Liz Brumfield of Grand Rapids, MI; a goddaughter, Angela Williams of Canton, MI; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, many, many friends and was a father figure for many others. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Beatrice Martin-Crawford, Delilah Martin-Mitchell and Roberta Martin-Birden; three brothers, Ruben Martin, Charley "Billy" Martin and Leroy Martin; mother and father-in-law, Leonard and Lucille Montgomery; five sisters-in-law, Rose Martin, Lucille Smith, Thelma Jean Adams, Addie Lee Gooden and Rosie Mae Price; and four brothers-in-law, Bobby Lee "Buck" Scott, David Young, Robert Young and James Young.