Homer and Eva Rice Martin
Homer Martin
Alice and Phillip Martin were the proud parents of eleven children, six daughters and five sons. One of their sons was Homer Martin. He is the patriarch of the Martin-Rice family.
Homer Martin was born April 15, 1897 in Cross Anchor, South Carolina. He was a member of Mount Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. As a young man, Homer Martin became a husband and a father. He married Eva Rice and they became the proud parents of seven beautiful children.
After marriage they migrated to Spartanburg, South Carolina. As a responsible and self respecting man, he wanted to work and provide for his family. During the great depression, it was hard to find a job. So when the northern factories came through the south offering jobs, Homer went north to work. He traveled to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and found work at a steel mill. Though he was physically separated from his love ones , Homer maintained contact with his family. He sent gifts and visited frequently. At his sunset, his body was laid to rest in Lincoln cemetery with his wife and other members of his family.
Eva Rice Martin
Eva (Juke) Rice Martin was a God-loving Christian woman devoted to family. Eva Rice Martin was born August 17,1896 in Cross Anchor, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Rena Simpson Rice and Mobley (Bud) Rice.
Mrs. Juke was raised in a Christian family with Christian values. As a Christian woman, she was a member of Prospect Baptist Church and served as Mother of the church at the Golden Street Baptist Church. As a mother, she worked to instill good Christian values in her children requiring them to attend church. As my great grandmother, Mrs. Juke took me (Aundar) to church, taught me the Lords Prayer and told me to “have no God before thee.”
As a child, Mrs. Juke walked to school and learned the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. As a great grand mother, she taught me the importance of education. She insisted that I do my homework and she was always willing to help.
As a young woman, Mrs. Juke believed in family. She married Homer Martin and they had six children. During hard times, Mr. Martin went north to find work. To provide for her family, Mrs. Juke worked as domestic help and an employee of the shirt factory. She worked most of her life to feed, clothe and provide shelter for her family. She asked the Lord to let her live to “see her children get grown." The Lord blessed her, she lived to see five of her children grown and providing for themselves. In addition, she helped raise grand and great grand children.
The Children of Homer and Eva Rice Martin
Roy Lee Martin Alice Irene Martin Willie Mae Martin Evans Gladys Martin John L. Martin
