Willie Earl Martin Jr.

Willie Earl Martin Jr. of Blytheville was born Nov. 19, 1939, in Memphis, Tenn., to the late Willie Earl Martin Sr. and Terra Smith. Willie Earl departed this life Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 81. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Arnest Martin, John Drew Smith, Larry Charles Smith, Ola B. Williams, Farry Stein Smith, Mary (Liz) Johnson and Mary (Verdell) Johnson, and his stepson, Ben Brooks.

Willie Earl worked for Stevenson Gin Company and the City of Blytheville, until his retirement. He lived in Blytheville for the most of his adult life until his death.

His life will be forever cherished by his wife, Maybeen Martin of the home; two sons, Ricky (Patricia) Martin and Bruce (Marilyn) Martin Sr., both of West Memphis; four daughters, Willie Mae (Charles) Williams of Blytheville, Sherry Renay Martin of Horn Lake, Miss., Rita (BJ) Martin Epps of Memphis, Tenn., and Barbara Martin of West Memphis; seven stepsons, Russell Brooks, Harold Brooks and Johnnie Brooks, all of Blytheville, Lee Tipton and Tyrone Martin, both of West Memphis, Greg Martin and Jerry Martin, both of Memphis, Tenn.; six stepdaughters, Selma Brooks, Janie Brooks and Gloria Brooks, all of Blytheville, Betty Wiley, Dorothy Braden and Devonia Cage, all of Memphis, Tenn.; six sisters, Willie Mae Bland, Lula Sims, Gloria Martin and Josephine McKinney ,Vikki Martin, all of Memphis, Tenn., and Virginia Walker of Atlanta, Ga.; four brothers, Roosevelt Smith of Elkhart Ind., Randy Martin, Willie Lee Martin Jr., and James Larry Martin, all of Memphis, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren, Richard Anderson Jr. of Blytheville, Demarcus Smith, Jaylan Hicks Antonio Martin, Shuntrell Martin, Denarius Martin, Bianca Martin, Bruce Martin Jr. , Kadesha Martin, Kadrecious Martin, Courdarius Martin and Marquette Martin, all of West Memphis; 14 great-grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.

Visitation and service will be held Thursday, Feb. 11, at Wolfe Brothers Funeral Home Chapel, 634 W. Main Street, Blytheville, from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Graveside service will follow at 12:00 (noon) at Gethsemane Cemetery in Blytheville. Pastor Burton Furlow will be officiating.

Due to the COVID-19, temperatures will be checked, face masks are required to be worn and social distance practiced.

We apologize for an inconvenience this may cause.

Services areprovided by Gary Wolfe at Wolfe Brothers Funeral Home & Cremation, 634 W. Main Street, Blytheville, AR 72315, 870-900-0010.