Martin Joseph Earl

Elder Martin Joseph Earl Sr. entered eternal rest on Tuesday March 12, 2024 at the age of 77. He was born on July 16, 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland to Velma Ducre Earl and Sergeant Jesse “Preacher” Earl. 

He was the oldest of 6 and the only son. He came to Slidell, LA as a young boy and attended St. Tammany. There, he met the love of his life, Clara Lee Ball, whom he affectionately called “Tweety Bird”. He grew up heavily involved in the Catholic Church before he converted to baptist. He was baptized with his wife, Clara Earl, on their wedding day of May 19, 1968 at Pentecost Baptist Church. He was always a hardworking and dedicated man. While in school, not only did he help his mother raise his sisters and care for his youngest disabled sibling, but he always kept a job. 

He had worked at several places over periods of time before obtaining a job driving trucks for the city of Slidell for 20 years. After he retired he performed several jobs doing landscaping and painting. He was deeply involved in the outreach ministry. He traveled to prisons, nursing homes, hospitals, and went door to door to get others to accept Christ into their lives. He was also involved in Forest Pine Bible study. He was an ordained Deacon at Greater Northshore Baptist Church prior to attending his forever church home, Grace Memorial Baptist Church. 

Martin love to work in his garden, read his Bible, watch church, westerns, old tv sitcoms, wrestling, and sports. He was known to have a green thumb and outside of his plants, nothing was more important to him than his family. He had an enormous heart and loved to pray for others and worship the lord. To his family he was a great provider, loving husband, and the most kind, caring, and supportive father and grandfather. 

Martin Joseph Earl leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of 55 years, Clara Earl; his son, Martin Gabriel Earl (Denise) of Natchez, MS; three grandchildren, Keona Green (Toye) of Jacksonville, FL, James Nelson (Nighesha) of Slidell, LA, and Gabrielle Earl of Slidell, LA; two sisters, Cynthia Amos of Slidell, LA and Lynette Earl of Slidell, LA; his mother in law, Mable “Madea” Miller of Slidell, LA; a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, in laws, and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Velma Earl; sisters, Darnella Dorsey, Jessie Mae Earl, and Diane Jones; brother in law, Aaron Amos; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

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