Christopher Craig Martin

Christopher Craig Martin was born on September 4th, 1976, at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte NC. He attended Idlewild Elementary School, Billingsville Elementary School, Randolph Junior High School, West Charlotte High School, and East Mecklenburg High School, where he graduated in 1994. After high school he earned a degree in Golf Course Management from Sandhills Community College in Southern Pines, NC.

Returning to Charlotte, Chris got a job at Charlotte Country Club, caring for one of the top-rated golf courses in North Carolina. After several years of tough outdoor work and long hours at the club, Chris switched jobs in search of a career that provided more balance and time to spend with his son Brent. He began working at Lakeshore Equipment and Supply Company (LESCO), where he continued to apply his knowledge of golf course management in the retail sector. He continued at LESCO for many years and eventually left the golf industry, signing on with SouthEnd Exteriors, a siding and roofing company in South Charlotte.

As Brent grew to a young man, Chris was extremely proud of his son’s accomplishments in the world of professional car racing. Chris would often brag about the latest races Brent had worked, and it was clear that Chris enjoyed living vicariously through Brent's experiences.

Although he did step away from a career in the golfing industry, Chris remained passionate about golf, introducing friends to the sport and spending countless weekends on golf trips with family and friends, including memorable trips to Ireland. In addition to a lifelong love for golfing, Chris enjoyed and excelled in many other competitive activities. He enjoyed connecting with friends and family over disc golf, poker, darts and billiards, constantly giving helpful encouragement and advice to help others improve. He also was one of the first in his friend group to own cornhole boards - homemade and not exactly regulation size, but perfect for bringing together friends.

When he wasn’t engaged in friendly competitions, Chris could often be found rooting for his favorite teams, especially the UNC Tarheels basketball team, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, and Charlotte FC of the MLS. Chris was proud of his home state, with its beautiful mountains and scenic beaches, and he always cheered for the home teams. As a devoted Panthers fan, he made the trip to Clemson University to attend a game during their inaugural season, and when Ericsson Stadium opened the following year he attended their first true home game with his son and a close friend.

For Chris, perhaps the only passion greater than his love of North Carolina sports was his love of music. At an early age he demonstrated his adoration for bands with the posters and stickers adorning every surface of his bedroom. As he got older, Chris became a devoted fan of Pearl Jam, attending their concerts across the Southeast and beyond. But for Chris, any live music was worth seeing - he appreciated so many bands across every genre of music, and he would happily see new acts just to feel the joy of experiencing music directly from the artists. He also extended this passion to those around him, connecting his friends and families to new bands and songs they hadn’t heard before and turning several people into lifelong fans of music they would never have experienced if not for his guidance.

Friends and family meant everything to Chris, and he found the most joy in life when experiencing it with those he loved - from the energy of a stadium filled with fans to the simple pleasure of a backyard barbecue, Chris was happy when his closest companions were happy. And the companion who made him the happiest was his wife, whom he absolutely adored. His life with Maggie was built on shared joy, love, and respect, and their devotion to one another was apparent to everyone who had the pleasure of knowing them as a couple. Over the many years they spent together - whether traveling, attending sporting and music events, going out with friends or just spending quality time together at home - Chris had found his life partner and true love, and he was always thankful to have her at the center of his world.

Chris passed away on the morning of Wednesday, June 23rd. He is survived by his wife Margaret Martin; son Brent Martin & Brent's girlfriend Maggie Wilson; mother Norma Monroe and step-father Jim Monroe; father Patrick Martin and step-mother Tena Martin; brother Benjamin Martin, sister-in-law Laura Martin, nephew Silas and niece Sailor; and two pups, Murphy and Spotie.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 3rd at 1pm at Jambox, located at 707 E Hebron St in Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Humane Society of Charlotte.