Vivian Anita Martin (Dean) was born in Waco, GA on September 14, 1931 and went to be with the Lord on July 17, 2019. She graduated from Avon Park High School in 1949 where she met the love of her life, Virgil Durrah Martin, who she was married to for 63 years before he passed away on August 6, 2016. She spread God’s word throughout her life wearing butterfly pins and was commonly referred to as the “Butterfly Lady”. She graduated from the University of Florida in 1953 and was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Vivian and Virgil raised their family in Pompano Beach, FL from 1956 to 2016. She was very active in her son’s sports and activities and was the President of PTA, President of Pompano Beach High School Athletic Booster Club, and their biggest fan cheering from the stands. While in Pompano, she was an active member of North Pompano Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach. Vivian was a speech/language therapist in various schools throughout Broward county. After many years of teaching, she retired from Tedder Elementary “Tedder Bears”.
Vivian was an aspiring writer and had a children’s book titled the “Little White Cloud’ published and it was the story of a cloud who could not cry and produce rain. It featured lots of animation and special characters and was one of the stories she read to her sons when they were young.
Vivian was an only child and many of her relatives were born without the ability to hear or speak so she was extremely proficient in sign language and taught that to others. She along with her mother, Katherine, and father, Reeves (a Baptist preacher), started a ministry for the deaf signing the church service so they too were part of the worship congregation.
Vivian often said “I am blessed and I know it.” She cherished her time with the love of her life, Virgil, her family, and the protection and guidance of her Lord. Vivian is survived by her three sons William (Bill) and wife Margie, Kenneth (Ken) and wife, Chris, Charles (Charlie) and wife Robyn. “Gram” was so proud of her six grandchildren (Lindsey, Lauren, Katie, Lantz, Blair and Reeves) and four great-grandchildren (Connor, Brie, Aden, and Landon). Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Tampa at 302 W. Kennedy Blvd with a luncheon to immediately follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to LifePath Hospice or a charity of choice. The family expresses many thanks to the staff of Allegro Hyde Park where she resided for 3 years, Tampa General ICU, and LifePath Hospice at Tampa General Hospital.
Vivian’s final resting place on earth will be at Bougainvillea Cemetery in Avon Park, FL.
