Garry Lee Martin, Sr.

Garry Lee Martin, Sr. passed away on April 5, 2025, surrounded by his family in Cookeville, TN. He was born September 28, 1955, in Gainesboro, Tennessee to Ruby Dimple Temple. He resided in Dowelltown, Tennessee for the last 37 years.

He worked as a brick mason from early on and took great pride in his work. He worked mostly in Franklin, Tennessee building high-end homes where he learned to do special decorative effects with the brick. He described it as an art.

Garry took great pride in his Cherokee Indian Heritage. He dedicated many years to the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee (NAIA) by helping to raise funding for the NAIA Emergency Relief and Scholarship Funds as well as helping set up for Annual Pow Wows.  Garry previously held a chairman position and was extremely active and dedicated to the NAIA.

Garry was survived by his three children: Lisa Honeycutt, Garry Lee Martin, Jr. and Tabitha Martin. He was grandfather to Kimberly Honeycutt, Alexis Bennett and Abel Vickers Martin.   He had one great granddaughter, Peyton Smith.  Survived by his sister, Nancy Davis Baker and brother, Don Davis and his former wife and lifelong friend, Penny Byrd Martin.  A very special thank you to Joshua Holloway for helping to care for him in his final months.

He was preceded in death by his mother: Ruby Dimple Martin, grandparents: Retta "Maude" Hensley Martin and James "Ted" Martin; brother: Ricky Davis;  and sister: Donna Temple Watson.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, from 4 pm to 8 pm and again on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, from 11am to 1 pm at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday April 9, 2025, at 1 pm in the chapel of Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home with Bro. Wilson Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the John L Clark Memorial Cemetery in Gainesboro, TN.

Memorials may be made in Garry's honor for the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee by contacting the funeral home.

Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 931-268-1550