Henry Buck Martin Sr.

COLUMBIA – Henry Buck Martin, Sr., 81, moved from his earthly home to his heavenly home on October 30, 2014. He no longer is tormented by dementia which has caused his slow decline since 2003. Born November 30, 1932 in Conway, Henry was the son of the late Harmon Pittman and Carrie Belle Jordan. After graduating from Conway High School, he decided to go to college to be something other than a farmer. He had no vehicle, so he hitchhiked back and forth to Columbia to go to the University of South Carolina. He graduated in 1955 with a B.S. degree in Accounting from the College of Business. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Henry was a great friend to those clients he assisted in the insurance business with State Farm for 45 years. He wanted to be an attorney but ended up being one of the best insurance salesmen ever. Henry was a great communicator, writing notes and letters to friends, family, business associates, local newspapers, and businesses on products, etc… He always had an opinion but was very respectful about everything. He ran for the State House of Representatives in 1978. My how South Carolina might have been different if he had won! From his farming background, he was a conservative that worked hard at whatever he did. He often said “If you were not committed 100% to the task, then you were wasting yours and others time.” He invented ‘Git R Done’ before anyone else. He loved to write Poems and Stories. One called Love Story (related to cigarette smoking) was sent to Paul Harvey and read nationally over his syndicated radio program. Henry had a wonderful sense of humor; he loved to laugh and loved to make you laugh. His positive attitude about life coined the phrase “Hello out there Good Morning” which he used to make his children say as we went to school with a frown on our faces. Henry loved to fish – mostly ponds with what we call popping bugs. He owned some “pedal” boats that he would use to fish in ponds to catch those bream and bass waiting for the bugs to fall in early morning or late evening. Henry was very logical and brutally honest at times. He expected the truth and the best from you always. He believed in God and God took care of Henry. Henry was a member of First Baptist Church in Columbia since 1990 and the Koinonia Sunday School Class. Prior to that, he was a member of Rosewood Baptist Church for over 25 years. Surviving are his wife, Carolyn Thorne Martin; his children, Henry Buck Martin Jr., “Marty” (Ann) of Columbia, Jeffrey Stewart of West Columbia and Karla DeAna Jenkins (Jay) of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, Benjamin Martin, Elizabeth M. Huff (Will), Matthew Martin, Kelly Martin, McKenzie Jenkins and Dylan Jenkins; step-children, James Daniel Throgmorton of Cross, Diane Throgmorton Pepper (Jeff) of Boiling Springs and Richard Wade Throgmorton (Susan) of Dalzell; step-grandchildren, Amanda Pepper Stokes (Justin), Kathryn Pepper, Sarah Pepper and Tyler Throgmorton. Also surviving are sisters, Johnnie Rose Holcomb of Chadbourn, N.C., Frances Yvonne Evans of Sumter and Linda Jean Hitt (Cal) of Valrico, Fla.; brothers, Horace Pittman Martin of Myrtle Beach and Harmon Lenneau Martin of Conway. Henry was predeceased by his sister, Barbara Ann Hendricks of Conway and his first wife, Nann Mitchell Martin of Denmark. Funeral services where we will remember and celebrate the life of Henry Buck Martin will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday November 4, 2014, at Rosewood Baptist Church, 2901 Rosewood Drive. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Rosewood Baptist Church on Monday, November 3, 2014. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rosewood Baptist Church, general fund; The Alzheimer’s Association; or Gideons International.