To view the funeral service on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 1:00pmEST, please use the following link:

http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/99195

Our jovial and humble husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, Willie D. Martin Sr., boarded his train home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. He passed away peacefully at his home in Norfolk, VA.

He was born in Norfolk on July 11, 1944. He was adopted by Willie Martin and Pearl Brooks Martin. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1963, where he was in the marching band and fed his love for music.

Throughout his life, he played the trumpet and the washboard. He also performed with numerous bands and was known to share stories of his time on the road, playing with the likes of musical talents such as James Brown.

He was a hardworking man, putting in time at numerous restaurants, Tidewater Dodge until the mid 1970s and Meyers & Tabakin Furniture. He drove trucks for Mary Jane Bakery and Batchelder & Collins. He retired after supervising the janitorial department for Aramark.

For decades, he attended Olive Grove Baptist Church, where he played the trumpet and sang in the male chorus and senior choir.

He had a knack for nicknaming everyone he came across, lovingly calling his oldest son Junior his youngest son Fats. He was also a man of many names, called Lil' Willie as a child, Poppy, Pop, Ninnie, Big Poppa, Big Dawg and sometimes, Big Banana. He was effortlessly funny and some people even called him Ham because when he ate, his cheek would swell up.

He was predeceased by his wife, Pastor Joyce K. Martin, parents Willie Martin and Pearl Brooks Martin, his birth parents Mary Alice Hassell and Leroy Mason, his stepmother, Corinne Mason and his brother Curtis Bailey.

He is survived by his brother Arthur Bailey (Vernetta); sons Willie D. Martin Jr. (Diane) and Patrick K. Martin, 7 grandchildren; Keyah Martin Williams, Dominique Martin (Melinda), Kevin Lynch Martin, Joseph Martin (Diamond), Saleen Martin, Isaiah Martin, Camrien Martin; and 7 great-grandchildren; Ashlynn, Karmen, Fallon, Joseph Jr., Julius, Caroline, and Collin, as well as a host of other family and friends.