Elaine Ouzts Martin

She grew up in Columbia where she graduated from Dreher High School in 1960. It was there where she met and dated the love of her life, Bob Martin, who became her husband of 60 years.

She attended Converse College and University of South Carolina where she was the May Queen in 1964 and a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. Her father was the voice of the Gamecocks for 42 years, and she was a loyal, lifelong GAMECOCK!

After graduating from USC, Elaine married our Bob on June 25, 1964. She taught English at Hand Junior High School in Columbia, S.C. Bob and Elaine had Libby, their first child, then moved to Atlanta where Bob attended graduate school at Georgia Tech. They had their second child, Bobby, and then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. Bob was hired by North Carolina State University, and they had their youngest child, Sims. They decided not to move again, or they might have had another child! They have resided in Raleigh for 55 years.

In Raleigh, Elaine focused on raising their three children. She was a loving and hardworking homemaker who put her family’s needs above her own. She grew up spending her summers at Pawleys Island and always loved the beach. She loved her garden and flowers at their farm.

She also loved Bible study and spending quality times with friends and family. She served behind the scenes in Bible study for years and preferred not to be in the spotlight. She was always available and loyal, and loved her husband, children, and grandchildren very deeply. Her love for the Lord was always first, and she knew she would be with Jesus one day!

Elaine is preceded in death by her father, William Carson Ouzts, her mother, Louise Davis Ouzts, and her sister, Carolyn Ouzts Mayhew.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Robert Harold Martin, Jr., and their three children: Elizabeth “Libby” Dowell and her husband, Tim, of Boone; Robert Harold “Bobby” Martin III and his wife, Gloria, of Raleigh; and Sara “Sims” McCorkle of Greensboro. She is also lovingly remembered by seven grandchildren: Owen, Sallie, and Carey Dowell, children of Libby and Tim; Jayne Elizabeth and Sanders Banks Martin, children of Bobby and Gloria; and William Carson and Sara Bradley, children of Sims.

Services will be held on Thursday June 12, with visitation from 1:00PM until 2:00PM and a Memorial service beginning at 2:00PM at the Christ Baptist Church 400 Newton Road, Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials be made to the place Elaine loved so much: Christ Baptist Church, 400 Newton Road, Raleigh N.C. 27615.