Marvin "Stump" Martin

Local sports icon Marvin “Stump” Martin Jr., 64, of East Ridge, entered God’s Hall of Fame on Thursday, May 10. He was born on July 18, in Christiansburg, Va. Stump dedicated his life to serving others through God and athletics.

Martin was a graduate of Rossville High School and then attended Carson-Newman College on a football/baseball scholarship. Stump loved God, his family, coworkers, the community, and all of his fomer players, past and present. In fact, Stump loved everyone he came in contact with.

The loving father, husband, grandfather, brother, friend, mentor and coach recently celebrated his 43rd wedding anniversary with his sweetheart Deborah Cain Martin of Ringgold, Ga. Together, the couple enjoyed the travel softball/baseball lifestyle with their extended Mustangs’ family. Their hobbies included watching the Andy Griffith show, the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Braves, Georgia Bulldogs and having sit-down dinners with their only child Misty Dawn and their grandson Austin Taylor Chastain. Sunday fundays included visits with his mother, Sarah Martin and Friday nights were reserved for their local television show Stump on Sports, which served promote local high school athletes for the last 36 years.

Stump served as the Director of Parks and Rec for the City of East Ridge where he had a dream and a passion for turning Camp Jordan into a field of dreams. Prior to that he served in the same role for Rossville Georgia as well as spending over decade as a sports writer with the Chattanooga News Free Press and also hosted a local ESPN sports radio show.

He is survived by, wife: Deb Martin, mother: Sarah Martin, daughter: Misty Martin, grandson: Austin Chastain, brother: Marshall Martin (Erin) & niece: Sarah-Catherine Martin of Brentwood, Tennessee; Michael “Chig” Martin (Christy Smith), nephews: Alexander “Xan” (Jessica) Nicolou and children Nix and Atlas, Madison & Mckenzie Martin & niece: Lauren Engdale. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Marvin “Chubby” Martin Sr. 

Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share words of comfort with the family and view the memorial tribute.

Services will be 11 AM Monday in the funeral home chapel with Pastors Darrell Henry and Denny Manning officiating.

The family will receive friends 2-8 PM Saturday and 1-7 PM Sunday at Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.