James William Martin

James William Martin (J.W.) of Sherwood, AR. passed away peacefully at home on January 18,2026, and went to be with his Lord, Jesus Christ, surrounded by his loving family.

J.W. was born November 18, 1940, in Lake Village Arkansas to James Hoyt Martin and Geneva (West) Martin. He was preceded in death by both parents.

J.W. is survived by his wife, of 66yrs. Mollie (Reed) Martin; and his daughter Jayme Martin Johnston (Tracy) of Little Rock, AR. and son Hoyt Martin (Melissa), Maumelle, AR., his sister Kay Faulkner, Sherwood, loving sisters-in-law, Kay Robinson Blue, Tulsa, OK., and Carol Nutter, Pine Bluff, AR He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, friends, former customers, and a few old friends from schools days, who will cherish his memories.

J.W. wrote My Life in the 50"s for his cousin Carol Spellman six years ago. In this brief synopsis, he says, "I kind of feel sorry for teens that did not grow up in the 50"s. What a great decade it was". He grew up in Little Rock on Spring Street where his family had moved when he was seven. He spent many days after school at the boy's club, rode his bicycle all over town, rode horses with his friend Charles through Boyles Park and played on the railroad bridge over the Arkansas River. He and Charles had a paper route at twelve and rode his bike until he got a little scooter. He liked making money. As a teen he hung out at King's Drug Store. As he got older, he worked at the Missouri Pacific Station where he would serve people coffee on the train from the restaurant. He joined the Army National guard in1955 not knowing that on September 2, 1957, as a senior at Central High School, he would be called up by Gov. Orval Faubus to report immediately to the National Guard Armory where they were dispatched to the school with their M1 rifles. J.W. was on active duty for only a month but each morning he had to sign in at the Armory at 7:00 a.m. and sign out at 7:00 p.m. He had many stories to share. My Life in the 50"s ended with," the best thing that happened in the 50"s -I met Mollie on January 2, 1959. We were married June 6th, 1959. WOW 60 years."

After graduating high school, J.W. got his first job at Democrat Printing and Lithograph making delivers, then working in office supply department. In 1975 he became territory manager for United Stationers, Chicago, IL. Retiring in 2008.

J.W. found immense pleasure in making people laugh and not always at the most appropriate times. He leaves us with a lifetime of the sweetest memories of fun, love and laughter. He will be so missed but we will get to see him again someday and we will laugh with him for eternity.