The Reverend Claude Jackson "Jack" Martin, 89, of Harrisonburg, returned to the arms of his Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016. Jack was born on June 21, 1927 in Hillsville, VA, and was the devoted son of the late William Martin Sr. and Fannie Emaline Martin.

Jack graduated from Roanoke College in 1949 and received a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1953. He organized Kure Memorial Lutheran Church in Kure Beach, SC in August 1951. He served as Mission Developer and Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Norfolk from 1953 to 1960, and as Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kannapolis, NC from 1960 to 1964. Jack served as Pastor of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church from 1964 to 1979, and then joined the staff of the Division for Mission in North America, Lutheran Church in America from 1979 until 1988. In 1988 he felt called to return to the parish ministry, and took on the development of a new mission as the Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Shallotte, NC from 1988 until 1992. Throughout his ministry he preached in over 200 churches, actively promoted ecumenical activities in the community and served in many capacities for the VA Synod of the Lutheran Church in America.

Jack loved to play golf and bowl in his spare time, and diligently researched his family's history.

Pastor Jack is survived by his wife of 28 years, Alvina Martin. He leaves behind three children, William "Bill" Martin and wife, Mary, of McGaheysville and their children, Norman, Paul, Verenta, Elizabeth and Matthew; Mary Bre of Staunton and her children, Ryan and Sarah; and Susan Oehler and husband, Henry "Fritz", of Harrisonburg and their children Henry "Ricky" and Robert. He also is survived by 6 great grandchildren, his former spouse, Shirley Martin, of Harrisonburg and two step-sons, Robert and John Nelson of Singers Glenn. Jack leaves behind one brother, Robert Rush Martin and wife, Susan Marie, of Max Meadows. Pastor Martin was preceded in death by his brothers, James Doran Martin and William Martin, Jr. and his beloved sister, Mary Martin Webb Ayers.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 at 2 p.m. at St. Jacob's (Spaders) Lutheran Church, 3555 Spaders Church Road, Mt. Crawford, VA with Pastor Jim Kniseley and Bishop Jim Mauney officiating.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 at 3 p.m. at Gladesboro Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hillsville, VA with Pastor Joseph Shumate and Bishop Jim Mauney officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ELCA World Hunger effort online at http://support.elca.org/goto/jackmartin or through your local ELCA congregation.