Judith "Judy" Martin's Obituary
Judith “Judy” Martin, 80, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Judy spent her earliest years on the South Side of Chicago before her family settled in Joliet, where she grew up alongside her brothers, Mark and David, and her sister, Barbara. She was the daughter of Marcus and Bernice Krakar and was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, and her stepdaughter, Brenda.
Judy met her husband, Doug Martin, while they both worked for Olin Corporation in Joliet. Judy worked in accounting, where her gift for numbers was evident from an early age, while Doug worked as a production superintendent. Following their marriage on October 23, 1976, they moved to Connecticut in early 1977 and began building a life together that would span nearly fifty years. When Judy married Doug, she also embraced his four daughters – Brenda, Colleen, Donna, and Ellen – as part of her family. Later, she devoted herself to raising her children, Elizabeth, Michael, and Kathryn. Caring for others was not simply something Judy did; it was who she was. Her role as a mother extended far beyond childhood. Throughout her life, she remained a source of strength, comfort, and practical support for her children and stepchildren, stepping beside them through both celebrations and challenges.
Throughout her life, Judy found countless ways to care for people. Sometimes that meant raising children and guiding family members. Sometimes it meant opening her heart to friends, neighbors, and church members who needed support. Sometimes it meant organizing meals, coordinating volunteers, solving problems, or simply making sure everyone had what they needed. Judy had a way of making people feel looked after. A longtime member of Davidson United Methodist Church, Judy put her faith into action through service. She helped lead Room in the Inn for many years, served in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and was an active member of the Navigators Sunday School Class. She participated in mission work across the state of North Carolina, other states, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Guatemala, building lasting relationships and serving communities she came to love. She was also a North Carolina Master Gardener who nurtured both plants and people with equal dedication.
Beginning in 2001, Judy devoted twenty-five years of volunteer service to Cook Community Clinic. From its earliest days operating in a church basement through decades of growth and change, she remained a steadfast and dependable presence. Her impact became woven into every chapter of the clinic’s history, helping ensure that uninsured individuals and families in her community could access healthcare with dignity and compassion. Her commitment to service was recognized in 2026 when she was presented with the Don Lucey Award by the North Carolina Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. Although ongoing cancer treatment prevented her from attending the award ceremony, the honor reflected what so many already knew: Judy devoted her life to caring for others. As one colleague wrote in nominating her for the award, “If something needs to be done, Judy steps in, without hesitation and without fanfare.”
Judy was known for her strength, competence, and leadership. She liked things done well and was never shy about offering direction, including, as her family lovingly recalls, telling Doug exactly what he ought to wear. She often took charge, but always in service of caring for the people around her. Whether helping a family member, organizing a volunteer activity, supporting clinic patients, or encouraging a friend, she brought the same combination of compassion, competence, and unwavering dedication. She became a mother, mentor, advocate, and friend to many, taking people under her wing and making them feel like family.
Judy leaves behind her beloved husband of nearly fifty years, Doug Martin; her children, Elizabeth, Michael, and Kathryn; her stepdaughters, Colleen, Donna, and Ellen; her sister, Barbara; her step-grandchildren; and many extended family members, church friends, fellow volunteers, and loved ones whose lives were enriched by her presence.
Her legacy is not measured by titles or accomplishments, but by the countless lives she touched. Some knew Judy as a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, church member, volunteer, or friend. Others may never have known her name at all, yet were cared for through the ministries she supported, the patients she helped, the families she served, and the communities she strengthened. Judy cared deeply, loved generously, and devoted her life to serving others. The people she nurtured, encouraged, comforted, and guided are the living expression of her legacy, and they will carry her love forward for generations to come.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 1st, at Davidson United Methodist Church in Davidson, North Carolina, with fellowship following at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cook Community Clinic, 14230 Hunters Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 or All In Guatemala, P.O. Box 923, Davidson, NC 28036.
Online condolences may be made at https://www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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