David Farrington Martin of Nashville, Tennessee

November 22, 1937 - September 14, 2022

David Farrington Martin, Sr., age 84, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2022, in Nashville, TN joining his beloved wife, Norma Sherry Lyon Martin for eternity.  He leaves his children Beth Martin, David Martin, both of Nashville,  and Jennifer Martin Tutor and her husband, Dean of Park City, UT, and his granddaughter, Margot Martin, of Nashville, and his brother, John Martin of Elizabethton, TN.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Virgie Martin, his brother Charles Martin, all of Gadsden, AL, and his sister Ann Martin Cashman, of Birmingham, AL. David was born in Hamburg, NY but grew up on Hill Avenue in Gadsden, Alabama, the youngest of Charles and Virgie’s four children.  He married the girl down the street, Norma, on May 31, 1959.

David graduated from Emma Samson High School and after serving in the U.S. Army, he attended the University of Alabama, graduating in 1961.  After college, David went to work in sales and he and Norma moved to Birmingham, AL where their two daughters, Beth and Jennifer, were born. He loved being a dad.  After a brief move to Tulsa, OK, the family moved to Jackson, Tennessee where his family was completed when his son David, Jr. was born.  Later that year, they moved to Memphis and David left sales to pursue his dreams of entrepreneurship and self-employment when he and Norma bought a Fun Services franchise.

David and Norma were successful business owners in Memphis for many years working together in school fundraising, the Zoom Flume water slide, and other ventures. They started their own company, A Corporate A'Fair, putting on company picnics and special events for many of Memphis’ biggest and most well-known employers including Fortune 500 Companies.  Dave was a mentor to many who worked with him through the years and still have memories of fun times.  A thoughtful mentor, he taught everyone who came through the doors, something they carried with them throughout their lives.  After retiring, David and Norma moved to Nashville to be closer to their grandchild, Margot and two of their children.

David was a prolific artist working in various mediums for many years.  Watching sports, especially his Alabama Crimson Tide football team, was one of his favorite past-times.  Big band music and dancing with Norma brought him great joy.  They were talented dance partners and especially loved doing the jitterbug – when they danced, everyone stopped to watch them.  Dave always said, Dance while the Music is Playing – we know they are dancing together again!

David and Norma enjoyed traveling with their friends and with their children. He had a zest for life and never stopped looking for adventures. He celebrated his 80th birthday by jumping out of a perfectly good plane and continued his adventures in his 80's with a solo trip to the Panama Canal, flying in a glider and going jet-skiing with Margot.

He was a friend to many people in lots of ways, kind, compassionate, and caring. He loved laughing and making others smile. David had many life-long friends such as the couples he and Norma befriended in Sunday School in Memphis decades ago, but he never stopped making new friends like the guys "at the table" at the Bellevue YMCA and the employees and residents of the Trace where he spent his last months.

When Beth brought Margot home from China in 2005, David was thrilled to become Margot's YaYa and he loved her fiercely.  He supported her in all she did, cheering her on in every sport she played and charming her friends, who called him YaYa, too.  He was a generous, loving, and supportive father to Jennifer, David, and Beth.  He showed his kids how much he loved them and never missed a chance to let others know how proud he was of them. Always affectionate, he never failed to hug and kiss his kids and granddaughter and to say I love you.  Even though he will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him, he lived a happy, long, and loving life.  He will always be with us in every laugh, dance, and good joke.

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 23, 2022 in Gadsden, AL at Noccalula Falls Park at 1 P.M.