Ida Kathryn Martin was born on May 24, 1931, in Nashville, Tennessee as the only child to Princella Hall and Paul C Jones. She joined her heavenly family on April 5, 2024.
Ida K. had a sweet spirit throughout her life. She loved her family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. A precocious child, she attended St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School where she was exposed to Catholic doctrine. At Pearl High School, Ida was an honors student and class leader. Along with her closest friends Donzaleigh Turman Patterson and Ola Gertrude Hudson, she graduated Pearl High School in 1947 and entered Tennessee State University at age 16. Majoring in Home Economics, Ida K. had the vision of becoming a clothing designer. Under the tutelage of her mother and Aunt Evelyn, she could create an outfit from head to toe that rivaled any famous fashion designer.
As a freshman student counselor at Tennessee State University, she met freshman William (Billy) Martin of Chattanooga, TN. In 1951, the two were wed during Billy’s first year of service in the U S Army and the Korean War. To this union, Quinta Ann, Arrold Nunn, and Clarence Lonell were born.
Family and religion were especially important to Ida K. As a child, she was beloved by her aunts, uncles, and cousins. While Great Granddaddy was alive, the Hall Family gathered year-round to celebrate with one another. She encouraged and supported her children’s interests – dance, baseball, football, cheerleading, Cub and Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts, Catholic Youth Organization, Parent Teacher Associations, and more. Religion was a core value built on a strong Christian foundation. While her mother’s side of the family were devout Baptist church leaders, her husband’s side of the family were fervent AME church leaders, and she was Roman Catholic. No matter where she was, she attended two services on Sunday - a Catholic service and Baptist or Methodist service. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church for over 50 years.
Not wanting to be without career alternatives, Ida K. earned her teacher certification shortly after graduating from TSU in 1951. When Billy was discharged from the Army and hired as one of the first Black engineers for Tennessee Valley Authority, Ida moved the family to Waverly, TN and taught in the Humphreys County School system. Three years and three children later when Billy was transferred to Paducah, Kentucky, Ida moved the family and taught second grade in the Paducah Public School System. In 1960, the family moved to Nashville and Ida joined the faculty of Haynes Elementary School teaching 2nd and 3rd grades. Ida served the public schools of Davidson County and later Metro Nashville as a teacher and then the local and Federal programs administrator until her retirement in 1999. She earned a Master of Administration and the EdD degrees from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Ida K. was an active member and Board member of Phi Delta Kappa (Educator’s honor society), the Metro Nashville Educators Association (MNEA), Tennessee Educators Association (TEA), and National Educators Association (NEA) attending conferences and trainings throughout the years. Upon her retirement, she had served in several offices of these organizations including President of the Tennessee Educators Association and the Metro Nashville Retired Teachers Association.
Ida Kathryn’s life-long, 75-year commitment to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated began as one of twelve of the Spring 1949 line of Alpha Psi Chapter at Tennessee A & I. In the undergraduate chapter, she served as an officer in various capacities. Likewise, in the graduate chapter, Alpha Delta Omega, she held several offices including Chapter President. Her commitment and leadership on the local and regional levels resulted in her election as South Eastern Regional Director 1990-1994. Her term was hallmarked by creating operational toolkits, standardizing award recognitions, and endowing the first Educational Advancement Foundation scholarship in the South Eastern Region. At the completion of her term, she was appointed to several international committees including the Diamond, Pearl, Golden, Silver Soror; Heritage; and Investigations committees. She served as Chair or Honorary Chair of 3 Boules (national conventions) held in Nashville. She was a life member and achieved Silver Star (25 year), Golden (50 year) and Diamond (75 year) membership recognition. Until this year, Ida K. had attended every Regional Conference or Boule except for two since 1950.
In 1992, Ida K. became a member of The Links, Incorporated through her induction into the Music City (TN) Chapter. For three terms, she served as Chapter President and for over10 years as the Nashville Area Links Cluster Treasurer. She attained Platinum status after many years of dedicated service.
From the 1980s to 2015, Ida K. celebrated the heritage of Pearl High School along with her 1947 classmates including Ola Hudson. This duo adamantly supported the TSU Alumnae Association and were recognized as Vintagers. For many years, she served as a TSU Nashville Alumnae Association Chapter officer – Parliamentarian and President.
Ida K. held membership in The Frist, Nashville Symphony, and Tennessee Performing Arts Center. She was a Board Member of the Council on Aging and Chairman/Co-Chairman of Discover Nashville for over a decade.
On a personal note, Ida K. loved singing, entertaining, playing bridge, traveling, and the arts. As a PGK (preacher’s grandchild), she sang in the choir and with her mother and aunt during special programs. She loved entertaining family, friends, and neighbors. She was a member of three bridge clubs – Quarterettes, Bridgedettes, and Casualettes. Ida and Billy annually vacationed with the family driving across the United States or by taking cruises to Hawaii, Alaska, and all the Caribbean islands. Ida also traveled to Bermuda, Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Canada, the Mediterranean, and Asia with her daughter and grandson Martin.
Ida K. is preceded in death by her parents, husband William (Billy), and her son, Rev. Dr. Arrold N. Martin. She is survived by her daughter, Quinta Martin-Pickrum; son, Clarence Lonell (Linda) Martin; daughter-in-law, Connie Jamison Martin; grandchildren, William Martin Pickrum (Las Vegas), Aaliyah Marie (Hershal Terrell) Hunt, Sean Jamison Martin; step-grandchildren, Larry and Jimmy Wilson; great-grandchildren, Christian and Joshua Hunt; a host of family members in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and Tennessee, along with friends across the globe.
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