Obituary for Tunnie Martin

Dr. Reverend Tunnie Martin Jr. was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina on January 20, 1921 to Tunnie and Anne Martin. A few years later his family moved to New Jersey where his father began to farm and as Tunnie grew older he helped his father work on a strawberry farm. Eventually, Tunnie's Dad started a Farmers Market where they sold the produce that they grew.

As a result of the profits earned through the Farmers Market Tunnie and sister were able to attend school outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, not content working on the farm and desiring more from life, Tunnie decided to become a missionary in his early 20's. He obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate degree in theology from Cornell University in New York. At the age of 35, Tunnie was offered the rare opportunity to travel to India in order to supervise the opening of several churches. He, along with several other missionaries, boarded a freighter at the port of Philadelphia for the long three week journey to India.

Tunnie was instrumental in the creation of numerous schools and orphanages for the many sick and abandoned children in India. As a result, over the years he brought 15 children to the United States in order to be adopted. Among those children, he fell in love with Seema and John, who he personally decided to adopt as his own children.

On Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 5:10AM Tunnie made the transition into heaven to be with His Lord and Savior. He is preceded in death by his parents Tunnie and Anne Martin, sisters Josephine Collins, Ertha Lipmanson, Gertrude Gould, wife Eloise Martin, and son Dan Martin. He is survived by his loving wife Shakutala Martin, daughter Seema Freeman, (Spencer Freeman), son John Martin, daughter in law Carolyn Martin, grandsons Joshua Martin and Spencer Freeman, granddaughters Caity Martin, Ameena Freeman and Tatinnia Freeman, godson David Schwartz and a host of special friends from the Church of The Messiah.