John Woodrow Martin

John Woodrow Martin, 94, of Blackstone, Virginia passed away Monday, April 9, 2007. He was born in Ashe County, N.C., the son of the late John Nelson Martin and Matilda Calhoun Martin. Woodrow was an originator of joining members of electricity in rural Virginia and a longtime dairyman and farmer. He served on the Board of Directors of Southside Electric Cooperative for 28 years, serving as secretary/treasurer for 16 and as president for nine years. Woodrow served on the Nottoway County Planning Commission for 31 years, and many years as well on the Board of Zoning Appeals. He was a charter member of the Blackstone Ruritan Club and life member and Past Master of the Bellefonte Grange. During his tenure at Southside Electric, he was also a director of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative for seven years, which serves power supplies for Southside Electric Cooperative and 11 other co-ops in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. It was during that time, he served on the Board of Directors to build the Clover Power Distribution Plant in Halifax. In 1999, he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award of Electric Cooperatives, being presented by the VA, MD & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. Woodrow was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Hallie Mae Byrd Martin; as well as his two brothers and a sister. He is survived by a son, Jess W. Martin, Sr. and his wife, Linda of Blackstone; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Joseph McMillian Funeral Home, 1826 Cox Road, Bus. Hwy. 460 in Blackstone, and where chapel services will be conducted 10 a.m., Thursday, April 12, by the Rev. G.C. Shepherd and Rev. Tim Beck. Burial will follow in Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Amelia County. The family requests memorial donations be made to Rocky Hill United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Joyce Winn, 2359 Rocky Hill Rd., Blackstone, VA 23824.

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