James Wesley Martin

9/27/1934 – 11/15/2018

James Wesley Martin, better known as “Junior” was born in Marshall County, Mississippi. Junior was a good man that was loved and will always be cherished.
He is the oldest child to Wesley Alexander and Lillie Ardelia Martin. Junior spent his childhood in Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he grew up with five other siblings and made lifelong friends. He was a hard worker and loved driving his ’49 Chevrolet, which was the first car his dad bought for him. He graduated from Rosenwald High School and attended Mississippi Industrial College, which was a historically black college in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In his late 20’s, Junior moved from Mississippi to Omaha, Nebraska, where he began working as a police guard. Three years later, he became a crane operator for Omaha Steel Corporation. He performed his duties as a crane operator for approximately 30 years before retiring.
Some of Junior’s friends called him “Cowboy,” because he loved to wear cowboy hats and boots. He truly had a cowboy spirit. Others referred to him as “Pretty Jimmy,” because he was tall, good looking and wasn’t shy about telling others that he was pretty. He had a passion for music. He listened to all sorts of music, but he particularly liked James Brown. He also loved entertaining his family and friends by playing the harmonica. He played a mean harmonica back in the day.
Junior left an impression on others, because of his wittiness and his ability to talk about any subject. He spent countless hours influencing others to take ownership of their lives. He helped those who had fallen on hard times. Junior also took his health very seriously. He was always working out and swimming, at least five days a week. His favorite work out center was the YMCA.
Loved ones that preceded Junior in death are his father, Wesley Alexander Martin; mother, Lillie Ardelia Martin; son, Herbert Bruce Martin (Regina May) and two sisters, Christine A. Coggins and Florida Bell Marion (Charlie).
Those left to cherish his memories are his first wife, Marlene Brown-Martin of Denver, CO, his devoted companion, Mae Lee Page of Omaha, NE. His children: Willie Brown of Omaha, NE, James Martin of Omaha, NE, Bobbie Jean Martin-Terrell (Keith) of Aurora, CO, Carl Martin of Lincoln, NE, and Christina Martin of Omaha, NE, Wendell Martin and Florida Martin of Denver, CO, Charles Martin (Carol) of Spring Lake, NC, Timothy Martin (Kim) of Aurora, CO, Cassandra Kay Caldwell (Harry) of Aurora, CO, Michael Martin (Nicole) of Spring Lake Park, MN, Michelle Martin of Denver, CO, Jason Gentry (Alisha) and Jemesha Renae Vana (Bryan), and his step children, Donell (Slim) Elliot, Sha Page of Omaha, NE and Coreyell Paige of Dallas Texas, as well as his two brothers McArthur Martin (Katherine) and Charles Edward Martin (Beverley) of Greenwood, MS, and one sister Pauline Lewis (Charles) of Omaha, NE. He also leaves many loving nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and friends that will miss him dearly.

Visitation Friday (11/30/2018) 5:00-7:00 PM at Mortuary. Funeral Service 10:00 AM Saturday (12/1/2018) at Roeder Mortuary. Interment at Evergreen Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc.- Ames Chapel 4932 Ames Ave- Omaha, NE (402) 453-5600 www.RoederMortuary.com