Paul Talmadge Martin

Born at Crawford Long Memorial Hospital on January 4, 1933, Paul was a devoted son to his mother and spent the afternoons of his youth at The Salvation Army or on the basketball court. Paul attended Southern Technical Institute, where he graduated in 1953 with an A.S. in gas and fuel technology. After graduation he pursued a career in the HVAC business, eventually purchasing an interest in Maynard Heating and Air Conditioning in 1958. He owned and operated Martin Mechanical Contractors in Athens for 40 years along with two heating and air conditioning companies, Bulldog Heating and Air in Athens and Macy's Air in Atlanta. After selling his HVAC businesses, he focused on various commercial holdings in the Athens area that kept him busy until he retired in 2020.

A founding member of Beech Haven Baptist Church, Paul was a devoted servant to the Lord and his community.  His greatest joy was to share what he had with others by providing advice, knowledge or financial support for new businesses and other worthy causes. One of his aspirations was to help future generations realize their dreams. Paul was also an American Legion Baseball coach and Athens Little League coach of the year. He enjoyed visiting with those who fondly called him “coach” decades after the diamond. He served on the Classic Center Authority Board from 1996 through 2004, including 4 years as chairman. He was thrilled to have an arts facility in the community to bring entertainment and culture to Athens and was the driving force behind the creation of the Classic Center Cultural Foundation, which he served proudly for almost 20 years.

Paul's energetic and playful nature, coupled with strong business acumen and compassion, made him a true leader in the Athens community. Everyday was a new challenge for Paul as he bustled around the city visiting policymakers, colleagues and partners in order to make Athens the best place to live and work. He was magnetic, full of life and always up for adventure. Whether he was attending the Braves’ spring training, joining the Athens ski club on the slopes, or journeying around the world with friends, he was always a welcome member to any group. His favorite activity, however, was Saturday in Athens at Sanford Stadium. Go Dawgs!

Paul received many awards throughout his years of service, including UGA Arch Award, key to the city, Golden Nail Award, Jaycees Man of the Year, The Salvation Army William Booth Award, Human Relations Council Pioneer Award, American Legion Baseball Coach and Little League Coach of the year. He is also a Hall of Fame member at Kennesaw State (formerly Southern Poly Tech.)

The Athens community is the true beneficiary of such a giant of a man.

Paul T. Martin was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Maude L. Harris and his son, Michael Martin. He is survived by his wife, June W. Martin; two daughters, Kate W. (Mitchell) Schneider and Lacy J.(Austin) Wilhoit-Stubbs; and grandchildren, Kelly M. (Cord) Marlowe, Layne Frances Schneider and Elijah Rain Schneider.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens, Georgia. The family invites guests to join them for a visitation immediately after services conclude.

In lieu of flowers, please continue Paul’s legacy by supporting local charities and serving the community as often as possible as he did for over 90 years.  Impactful organizations such as: The Salvation Army, Classic Center Cultural Foundation, Paul T. Martin Family Foundation, Alzheimer's Association, and American Heart Association.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.