GRADY H. MARTIN SR., 66 years old was born in Buffalo, New York on February 19, 1954 to the marital union of Homer Martin and the late Mary Harper Martin. He spent his formative years in Buffalo and was educated in the Buffalo Public Schools where he graduated from Bennett High School in 1972. Grady worked at Republic Steel until 1984. Later, he attended trade school at Erie Community College and became an electrician. Grady was employed by Niagara Mohawk/National Grid from 1986 until hos retirement in 2007 after over 2o years of service. He was a Christian who had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and attended True Bethel Baptist Church.
Grady loved to travel and would never pass up an opportunity to spend a special occasion with his parents in South Carolina or his sister in Ohio. He enjoyed listening to gospel music and light jazz and he loved to eat his favorite foods!! He loved his family,especially his children and grandchildren, and would do anything for his mother. Someone once said that Grady never met a stranger. From the time he said hello until the time he said goodbye, he would get a laugh out of you or give you an encouraging word. Whether it was a special nickname or greeting he had for you or whether you finally beat him in arm wrestling, Grady had a special relationship with most every heart he touched.
Grady leaves to cherish his memory; his wife Shawana Martin of Rock Falls, IL; his father Homer Martin of Bedford, OH; daughter Natasha (Kenneth) Lawrence of Buffalo, NY; sons, Grady Martin Jr., Joseph Martin, and Matthew Martin all of Buffalo, NY and Steven Martin of Washington State; stepchildren, Sharaheem Austin,Telia Austin, Jerimiah Jones, and Jahkei Jones; and ten grandchildren. Grady is also survived by three brothers; Reynard Harper of McCormick, SC, Kenneth Martin of Buffalo, NY, DeWayne Martin of Atlanta, GA; one sister Almina "MiMi" (Zebadee "Butch")Williams of Bedford, OH; Godmother Inez Sworn of Buffalo, NY; and a host of other family and friends. Grady was predeceased by his loving mother, and apple of his eye, Mary Martin in 2017.
Over the years, Grady has maintained a close friendship and co-parenting relationship with his ex-wife Peggy Martin,mother of his sons Joseph and Matthew;Geraldine Dobson, mother of his daughter Natasha Lawrence; and the late Clarice Martin, mother of Grady, Jr. and StevenMartin.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family at a later date.
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