John R. Martin Jr.

John R. Martin Jr., 64, of Durham, passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025. He was born on March 17, 1961, to the late John and Frances Melton Martin in Cabarrus County, NC.

John graduated from A.L. Brown High School in 1979 and pursued part of his college education. As a child he helped his father with the upkeep of West Point Baptist Church, where they polished and cleaned the facilities. Later in life, John earned a certification from The Personal Computer Training Center at Queens College. He worked for McMahon, a hotel management company, for 25 years as an accountant. In 2004, he married Malavanh, and together, in 2010, they opened a small Thai restaurant, a venture they both cherished.

John had a deep passion for computers and coding. He loved listening to jazz, though his musical tastes were wide-ranging. At one point, he became fascinated by Michael Jackson's rise to fame and enjoyed delving into his music. John also had a strong love for travel, often embarking on long road trips across the country, including a memorable four-day journey from North Carolina to California. He had also visited Laos several times, where he was particularly popular with the local mosquitoes—though, surprisingly, he never contracted malaria.

Although John was never particularly fond of pets, his perspective changed when his wife brought home a dog. Together, they went on to adopt another dog and two cats. One of the cats, named Ms. Hope, had originally belonged to his mother, Mrs. Frances Martin, and held a special place in John's heart.

John was a kind and loving man, deeply devoted to his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Malavanh Martin, and her children, whom he loved as his own. He is also dearly remembered by his three older sisters: Judy, Janet, and Myra. John held a special place in his heart for all his nephews, nieces, and extended family members. Although he had no biological children of his own, John made countless sacrifices for Malavanh’s children, whom he helped raise and loved unconditionally.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Frances Martin, and his beloved nephew, Jeff, who was not only family but also his best friend. May they all rest in peace.

John's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at West Point Baptist Church in Kannapolis, beginning at 11:00 am until the time of service. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon, with Pastor Eddie Willis officiating. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park at 1:00 pm.