Funeral services for Mr. Beauford Herschel Martin, age 96, of Beckville, TX, will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Shannon Hahn and Rev. Jesse M. Harris officiating. Interment will follow in Martin Cemetery on the Panola and Rusk County Line. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Mr. Martin departed his earthly home on Thursday evening, Jan. 27, 2011, at his home near Beckville.

Beauford Herschel Martin was born on Dec. 22, 1914, in Beckville. He was the youngest of 11 children born to Daniel Edward and Sarah Elizabeth (Sallie) Williams Martin. He was the great-grandson of pioneer Panola and Rusk County settler, Daniel Martin, Sr. He lived his entire life on part of the league and labor land grant awarded to his great-grandparents by the Mexican government in 1835. Mr. Martin was a rancher, spent many years in road construction, and owned and operated a saw mill during the post-World War II years. He enjoyed jokingly telling anyone who asked about his profession, that he had done just about everything except haul pulpwood. He was a devoted member of the Tatum United Methodist Church, where he served faithfully for nearly 60 years. Although his physical body showed aging, his mind and wit remained that of a young man until his final days.

Mr. Martin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 58 years, Beatrice Fitzgerald Martin; seven siblings, Ed, Jack, Leland, and Elbert Martin, Annie and Ada Williams, and Lavada Thornton; and three other siblings that died in infancy.

Mr. Martin is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Tuttle and husband Robert C. (Bobby) of Beckville; two grandchildren, Robert Martin Tuttle and wife Brittany of Bossier City and Lacy Suzanne Tuttle of Lake Cherokee; great-granddaughter, Carli Ann Tuttle of Bossier City; and a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Fitzgerald of Dallas. Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive Mr. Martin.

The family wishes to express appreciation to Mr. Martin's devoted caregivers, Virginia Taylor, Betty Brooks, and Lynn Franks, as well as to Heart's Way Hospice and Melinda Qualls.

Serving as pallbearers will be Rob Tuttle, Daniel Beckman, Jeff Fitzgerald, John Fitzgerald Aaron Hudspeth, Daniel Martin, Doug Lewis, and Jason Woodley.

Serving as honorary pallbearer will be the Texas Bank of Tatum Coffee Club and the Pine Hill U.M.C. Domino Group.

If desired, memorials may be made to Martin Cemetery, 731 CR 258, Beckville, TX 75631 or Tatum U.M.C., P.O. Box 1381, Tatum, TX 75691.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.