James Elijah Martin's Obituary
Services for James Elijah Martin "Cow Joe", 82, formerly of Lufkin will be held Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in the New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3221 Bain St., Houston, TX. Burial will follow in the Cherino Cemetery in Cherino, TX. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 till time of services at the church.
Jåmes Elijah Martin, Sr., the tenth child and youngest son of eleven children born to Jessie Sr. and Adline Martin on April 10, 1936, in Huntington, Texas. The family later moved .2 to Lufkin, Texas where James attended and graduated from Lufkin _Dunbar High School in 1955. He joined the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized at the age of twelve.
A year or so after graduation, Cow Joe as many called him moved to Houston, Texas.
He was employed in the Construction Industry until his. retirement. His other name was Joe; these are names you would hear family members and friends call him. He was known in his profession to be one of many men to have built several of the high-rises in the City of Houston. Joe united with the New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. You could find him at the doors greeting people into church on Sunday mornings until his health began to fail him. Joe was the President of the Usher Board and truly loved his Pastor and his Church. His favorite pastime was reading his bible.
He is preceded in death his parents, son: James Elijah Martin Jr., three brothers and five sisters.
left in God's care and to cherish his memories are his two daughters, Myra Renae Martin and Otha Ree Jackson; son, Steve Martin; six grandchildren and fifteen greatgrandchildren; two sisters and brother-in-law, Ann (Prophet) Shelton and Clem Tina Shelton; special nieces, Mary Martin Myers, Betty Cole Brooks and Wanda Martin Moore; special nephews, Richard Martin, Jr., Michael Martin and Fred Martin. Special Friends, Brother and Sister Beck; and a host of other relatives, friends and neighbors.
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