November 18, 1933–September 23, 2022
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and pastor, Dr. William Durwood Martin—known simply as Bro. “Step” to the members of Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport and the thousands whose lives he touched—met his Savior face-to-face on September 23, 2022.
Born November 18, 1933, in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, the son of Robert and Maylene (Edwards) Martin, he attended Hinds Junior College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he quarterbacked the championship football team. After graduation, he transferred to William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. At William Carey, he continued to play football. Early in his years at Carey, something happened to “Step” that would alter the course of his life. He began to understand that the life he was living and the future that he had planned were meaningless and empty.
One night in late October, 1954—well after midnight—Step found himself, desperate for answers, at the door of Dr. Andy Tate, Dean of Men. When he knocked on that door, Dr. Tate, welcomed him saying, “Come on in, “Step,” I’ve been waiting for you.” “Step” poured out his heart to Dr. Tate who opened his Bible and read to him…
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Dr. Tate explained that God loved “Step” deeply and that the promise of eternal life is for everyone—it doesn’t matter who you are or how bad your life has been. Jesus paid the price for every bad thing we have ever done or ever will do. All Jesus wants is for us to turn away from our selfish lives, turn to Him, and believe that He will receive us, forgive us, and give us a new life with purpose.
Step had seen this message change the lives of some of his closest teammates and other students at William Carey. He was ready to unreservedly follow Jesus. That choice almost 68 years ago changed the rest of “Step’s” life. He began to tell this simple message to anyone who would listen—Jesus will save whoever believes.
In 1955, he married Patricia Pinson, a fellow student at William Carey, and they began to serve the Lord together. While in college, “Step” pastored Sanford Baptist Church near Hattiesburg. Upon graduation, he entered New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. During that time, he was called to pastor Navco Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He served there for four years. Then he spent two years in full-time evangelism. He was then called to pastor First Baptist Church, Satsuma, Alabama in 1963.
Responding to God’s leadership, in March of 1969, Bro. “Step,” his wife, Pat, and their six children moved from Alabama to Shreveport, Louisiana, to pastor Calvary Baptist Church. There they joined a group of believing families committed to sharing the gospel from their location in Cedar Grove. Within his first year as pastor, Bro. “Step” founded Calvary Baptist Academy while expanding the Day Care and Preschool. People responded to the gospel message, and—by 1975—the church had outgrown its location on St. Vincent Avenue. God led Bro. “Step” and the church to build a new facility at a site in south Shreveport.
Under his leadership, Calvary supported and partnered with a growing number of local and international missionaries—beginning a robust Faith Missions Offering and increasing support of Southern Baptist mission efforts. In addition, he set up the “Step” Martin Evangelistic Association (originally known as Glimpses of Glory) which still provides financial support to seminary students, young pastors, and missionaries. Over the next 27 years, Bro. “Step” and the believers gathering as Calvary Baptist Church faithfully continued to impact Shreveport and the world with the simple message that ignited their faith—Jesus will save whoever believes.
In 2002, Bro. “Step” retired as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church and was named Pastor Emeritus. For the next 12 years he preached revivals across the South while he and Pat focused on encouraging pastors and their wives in those churches. During his ministry as pastor and evangelist he held hundreds of revivals, preached in more than fifteen states and six foreign countries. For 60 years, Bro. “Step” faithfully preached the truth that changed his life—Jesus will save whoever believes.
Bro. “Step” is survived by his wife, Patricia Pinson Martin; six children, Marty Martin and wife, Carla, Tammy Lundquist and her husband, Robert, William D. “Bill” Martin, Jr. and wife, Dedee, Dr. Robert Tate “Bob” Martin and his wife, Pam, Teena Ward and her husband, Bryan, and Teri Logan and her husband, Darren; sixteen grandchildren, Serena Martin, Brittany Lennard and her husband, Cameron, William D. “Drew” Martin, III and his wife, Amanda, Robert Tate Martin II, Rhonda Martin, Jessica Ward and her husband, Judd Smith, Jordan Carver and her husband, Bradley, Jamie Ward, Garrett Logan and wife, Sydney, Geoff Logan and his wife, Lindsey, Grayson Logan, Esther Logan, Gideon Logan, Elizabeth Logan, Emma Logan and Erin Logan, and twelve great-grandchildren, Lawson Lennard, Ledger Lennard, Laikyn Lennard, Emersyn Martin, Ellyot Martin, William D. “W.D" Martin IV, Ward Smith, Remy Smith, Maverick Carver, Clara Logan, Hadley Logan and Fitzgerald Logan. He also leaves a sister, Delores Burkett and her husband, Billy Ray and four nieces.
The family would like to extend its gratitude to Bro. “Step’s” physicians, Dr. Craig Miller, Dr. Iqbal Singh, Dr. Meghan Harris; the staff of Montclair Park/The Chateaus of Montclair; SouthernCare Hospice of Shreveport; Dr. David Abdehou; along with Bro. “Step’s” many caregivers for their support and compassion during his final days and to The Great Physician, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at Calvary Baptist Church, 9333 Linwood Ave, from 5:00–7:00 P.M.
A Celebration of Life Service will follow on Sunday, October 9, 2022, from 2:00–3:00 P.M. at Calvary Baptist Church, 9333 Linwood Ave, Shreveport, LA
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the following non-profit ministries:
“Step” Martin Evangelistic Ministries, PO Box 6812, Shreveport, LA 71136.
Calvary Baptist Church: “Step” Martin Memorial Fund, 9333 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71106.
To hear Bro. "Step" share his personal testimony please use the following link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIrpr7ntTaI
