September 30, 1945 - January 8, 2023
Tommy Martin
Gaffney, SC - - Tommy Ed Martin, 77, of 910 College Drive, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at Spartanburg Medical Center.
Born in Gaffney, he was the husband of Ann Blanton Martin for 42 years and son of the late Harold Bill Martin and Edith Tipton Martin Cobb, and stepson of the late Richmond Cobb. In addition to his wife, he is also survived by three children, Tiffany Eubanks and husband, Jeff of Spartanburg, Jonathan Martin and wife, Kinsey of Cowpens, and Joshua Martin and wife, Sarah of Boiling Springs, SC; five grandchildren, Isaac Eubanks, Noah Eubanks, Hope Eubanks, Ella Eubanks and Madison Martin; two sisters, Judi Reeves and husband, Terry of Greer and Kathy Warf and husband, Dave of Winston-Salem, NC.
He was a 1963 graduate of Gaffney High School, attended the University of South Carolina (1963-1964), a 1968 graduate of Limestone College, the Editor/Publisher of The Cherokee Chronicle, and a member of First Baptist Church of Gaffney.
Tommy started his newspaper career at The Gaffney Ledger in April, 1965 (reporter, Sports Editor, from 1965 to 1969). He was thereafter employed by The Savannah Morning News, Savannah, GA, Beaufort (SC) Bureau Chief (1969-1971) and the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, (1971-1979) as Cherokee County Bureau Chief. Tommy returned the second time to The Gaffney Ledger (1983-1991) where he developed, wrote and edited TMC newspaper magazine titled “Friends & Neighbors” and where he served as Editor of The Gaffney Ledger from 1988-1991. He then left the Ledger in 1991 and founded The Cherokee Chronicle (June, 1991) where he served as Editor/Publisher. He was also the former co-owner (with brother-in-law Dave Warf) of WFGN Radio Station in Gaffney.
Tommy was the author of three books, “The Gaffney Strangler Story”, “Son of a Peach: Darn Near True Tales From the World’s Largest Fruit”, and “Pride & Tradition: The 100-Year History of Gaffney High School Football”.
Tommy received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service from Limestone University in December, 2019, was named as a Special Inductee into the Limestone College “Athletic Hall of Fame” in 2020 (inducted September, 2021 due to the pandemic) and served two five-year terms on the Board of Trustees, Limestone University (1st term 2014-2019) and second term as “Senior Trustee” (2020 to 2025). He also served as Treasurer of the Board for three years and as chairman of the Building & Grounds Committee for three years. He was also honored as “Alumnus of The Year” by Limestone College in 2016.
Tommy was also honored by the SC General Assembly (S.C. Senate and House of Representatives) in 2015 for 50 years in the newspaper industry and was commissioned by S. C. Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer a “Palmetto Patriot” in 2008 for “the many things you do for the citizens of South Carolina and especially the residents of Cherokee County.”
He was the winner of hundreds of state and national awards in every category of newspaper: photography, editorial writing, feature writing, sports writing, page design, Column writing, Humor column writing (multiple times), and advertising.
He was the recipient of the “Community Service Award” presented by the Cherokee County Republican Party “for dedication to our community”, received the “Top Hat Award” from the Gaffney Business and Professional Women’s Club “for outstanding achievements in the promotion of women in the workplace”, and was honored by the S. C. Board of Education in Columbia “for The Cherokee Chronicle’s continuing and unique support of local schools” – the only media outlet in Cherokee County to ever receive this award.
He was twice elected Chairman of the YMCA Board, received special commendations from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of U. S. for “consistent wholehearted efforts to promote veterans’ affairs” (14 times), received a special award from Governor Carroll Campbell “for outstanding coverage of persons with disabilities”, served as an elected member of the Chamber of Commerce Board, 1993-1995, was honored three times by the S. C. Hospital Association for “Excellence in Health Care Reporting” in South Carolina, and was honored four times by the S. C. Association of Certified Public Accountants for “Best Financial/Business/Taxation Reporting” in South Carolina.
He also won the S. C. Education Association’s “School Bell Award” for “sustained education coverage” and was honored by the SC Chapter of the Leukemia Society for hosting and emceeing the “Celebrity Waiters Banquet Fundraiser” for seven consecutive years.
Tommy was a former member, board member, and a “Paul Harris Fellow” of the Gaffney Rotary Club, a charter member of the Chesnee Rotary Club, a 56-year member and former “Elk of the Year” (1978) of Gaffney Elks Lodge #1305, a former Board of Directors member of the Gaffney Country Club, and was honored 12 times by the Cherokee County NAACP for “Service to the Community and the Organization”.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 in Oakland Cemetery with Mr. Josh Martin officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, Tommy would like for you to help someone in need or make memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.
The family will be at their respective homes.
An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome.com
Blakely Funeral Home & Crematory, Gaffney, SC
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