Service of Thanksgiving for Vin Martin

The life of the late former Jamaica Honorary Consul to Atlanta and prominent Attorney, Vin Martin, was celebrated at a service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving, held at the Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, Georgia, on Friday, August 1.

Heading the list of mourners was Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen, wife of the Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen.

Also at the service were Mayor of Montego Bay, Glendon Harris, who represented Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller; Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami, Mr. Franz Hall; Chairman of the Montego Bay chapter of the Atlanta Montego Bay Sister City Committee, Mr. Fred Smith; President of the Atlanta Jamaica Association (AJA), Mr. Allan Stewart; members of the Atlanta Consular Corps and representatives from State and Local Government.

In a message, read by Lady Allen, the Governor-General said Mr. Martin gave unstintingly of himself in the service of Jamaicans in the Diaspora, especially in Atlanta.

“He was known for taking a keen interest in the affairs of his fellow Jamaicans and an unshakeable fervor for the development of his country,” the Governor-General noted.

He said the county was grateful for Mr. Martin’s outstanding contribution and awarded him the Order of Distinction in 2013.

“Mr. Martin lived his life with dignity, distinction and pride and has left us with a tremendous legacy. Our country has lost a good son, but his memory will live on in the great work he did and the many lives he was able to impact,” the Governor-General said.

In her tribute, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said that Mr. Martin’s passing has robbed the Jamaican community in Atlanta and the wider Jamaican Diaspora of a true stalwart.

“His unbridled patriotism saw him giving outstanding service to Jamaica – the land of his birth – despite the fact that he spent most of his adult years in his adopted homeland of the United States,” the Prime Minister said.

The tribute, which was read by Mr. Harris, noted that even though Mr. Martin retired as Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Atlanta in April 2013, he continued to give yeoman service to his country and people.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said that among Mr. Martin’s greatest contributions was the pivotal and sustained role he played in the establishment of the Atlanta-Montego Bay Sister Cities Health Mission, which for many years provided, and continues to provide, a variety of well-needed medical services to the poor and needy in Jamaica’s tourist capital.

In his tribute read by Mr. Hall, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. A. J. Nicholson, said Mr. Martin’s sterling accomplishments are a testament to his determination and strong will to succeed.

“He will be remembered as a dedicated son of Jamaica who never forgot or look down on the island from which he came and who demonstrated throughout his long sojourn in his adopted country, an unwavering commitment to Jamaica, the land of his birth,” the Minister said.

Other tributes were given by Mr. Smith; Dr. Yvonne Smith, Chairman of the Atlanta Montego Bay Sister City committee; and Alan Stewart of the AJA.

The sermon was delivered by Professor of Ethics and Theology at the School of Theology at Emory University, the Rev. Dr. Noel Erskine. Musical tributes were given by Jamaica’s renowned cabaret singer, Karen Smith, Drs. Chris Parker and Suzette Clements.

The body was interred on Saturday, August 2after a private ceremony.  Mr. Martin is survived by his wife Hazel, sons Corey and Kayon.