Obituary


Gabriel Martin was born October 22, 1935 in McComb, Mississippi to the late George and Annie (Brown) Martin. He was one of twelve children. He joined Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. He attended Pike County Agricultural High School. Gabriel entered into the United States Navy in 1955; which brought him to California; he would serve until 1959 with an honorable discharge.

He was united in Holy Matrimony to Ruth Mae Everett and to their union was born three children, two daughters, Brenda and (Janice who preceded in death), and one son, Gabriel Junior

In June 1979, he received his Associate of Arts Degree at Long Beach City College, Long Beach, California.

He was employed at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, worked as a Long Beach Police Reserve Officer and drove for Long Beach Transit until he retired. Gabriel was an advocate with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee, California VFW Post 5394.

Preceded in death are his parents, five brothers Robert, George Ernest, Wallace, Harry and Milton Gene Martin; two sisters Ruby Lee (Martin) Joseph and DeElla (Martin) Rodgers.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Mae Martin; daughter Brenda Martin; son Gabriel Martin Junior of Long Beach, California; four grandchildren DeShawn Martin, Tanesha Martin Short, Taron Martin and Marfel Jones; eight great-grandchildren Carlesha Short, Christina Short, Faizon Short, Allonte Short, Christina Martin, Za-Karra Martin, Nevaeh Martin and one great-great grandson Bryson Lowery; one brother Willie James Martin of McComb, MS; three sisters Dorothy Dean (Martin) Tate of McComb, MS, Rosa Mae (Martin) Watson of Milwaukee, WI and Emma Mae (Woodrow) Wilson of Bossier, LA; sisters-in-law Irene Martin of McComb, MS, Jackie Nalley of Long Beach, CA; brothers-in-law James Everett of Long Beach, CA and Alcus Everett of South Carolina and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.