Landrum Thomas "L. T." Martin

Landrum Thomas “L. T.” Martin, 88, devoted husband and family man, friend, auto mechanic and lifelong resident of the Atlanta metropolitan area went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, the 23rd of March 2013. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Frances Rebecca Harris Martin (1924-2009). L. T. Martin was born north of Atlanta in Cumming, Georgia on November 12, 1924, to Reverend Landrum Duffey Martin and Mary Belle Sosebee Martin. After studying automobile mechanics at Jackson Lake Vocational School in 1941, he began his lifelong career in that field working for Boomershine Pontiac and H&M Motor Co. in the 1940’s. During WWII, in addition to his duties as a heavy machine gunner in the Army, he taught auto mechanics to his fellow servicemen. After the war, L. T. married his loving wife on December 15, 1946. The couple soon settled in Sandy Springs where they raised three children, Thomas “Tom” H. Martin of Sugar Hill, GA, the late Sherry Frances Martin Floyd of Hawkinsville, GA, who passed away in 2007 and Charles L. Martin of Derby, KS. In addition to his two sons, L. T. is survived by four sisters, Inez Bottoms, Sarah Sewell, Mary Myers, and Jane Smith, all Georgia residents, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. As a long-time resident of Sandy Springs, L. T. purchased Sandy Springs Garage in 1951 and operated the business at its Roswell Road location until the mid-1960’s and at Sandy Springs Plaza from the mid-1960’s through 1971. While operating Sandy Springs Garage, he earned the leadership distinction of becoming one of the early presidents of IGO (Independent Garage Owners, later Automotive Service Association). After selling the business on January 1, 1972, he went to work for J&L Auto and then R&H Auto Parts (both in Chamblee) for a few years before becoming a self-employed auto mechanic again (L. T. Martin Services. Although he retained his love of automobiles throughout his entire life, he retired in about 2002. L. T. was blessed spiritually by his active involvement in several churches throughout his life including Morgan Falls Baptist (1950’s – 1960’s), Donaldson Drive Baptist (1970’s – 1990’s) where he served as a deacon, and Sandy Springs (“Providence”) First Baptist (2000’s). Funeral services celebrating the life of L. T. will be conducted Friday the 29th of March at one o’clock at Patterson’s Arlington Chapel. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park. For those desiring, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Express online condolences to the family at www.hmpattersonarlington.com. Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family Thursday evening from six until eight o’clock and again on Friday from eleven o’clock until the hour of service at H. M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, 404-851-9900.