Jeanne Marie (Norton) Martin

Jeanne Marie Martin (Norton) 71, of Athens, GA passed away on Sunday, November 6th, 2022 with her daughters by her side and surrounded by the love of friends and family near and far.  Jeanne was born on April 12th, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the second of four children born to George and Doris Norton (Weimer).

When Jeanne was young, the family moved back to the small, close-knit town of Fulton, Michigan to be with Doris’ family. Jeanne attended Vicksburg Community Schools, where she met many lifelong friends and her first husband John Grohs. She graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1969. Upon graduation, Jeanne took classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and began working at The UpJohn Company, where she worked for 41 years until her retirement in 2010.  While working at “Upjohn’s” she met her late husband Brian R. Martin Sr., and many, many lifelong friends whom she deeply loved and cherished. Brain and Jeanne raised their daughters in Otsego, MI.

Jeanne was a spiritual woman who lived by The Golden Rule. She taught her family that treating others the way you want to be treated, is the foundation for a peaceful life. She wholeheartedly believed in the power and wisdom of Jesus and modeled her life on his example of unconditional love, inclusivity, generosity and forgiveness for all, especially the most marginalized among us.  She found church homes in both Christian Life Center and Threads Church in Kalamazoo. In her own words, “I have called upon Jesus and have been saved. In fact, I have called upon the name of Jesus many times and have been saved from myself many times. Thank you Lord for all that you are and all that you do.”

In 2016, She moved to Athens, GA where both of her daughters and their families had relocated. The last 6 and half years, Jeanne’s days were filled with family dinners, family vacations, Holiday and Birthday celebrations, sporting events, school performances, her daughters’ work functions, and so much more. She made every effort to be present and show up in any and every way that she could for her children and grandchildren. These past several years have been full of love, and rich in experiences and memories that will forever be a blessing. She was a blessing.

Surviving are her daughters: Tahisha (Rich) Sherman; Tarin (Luke) Tripp; her stepchildren Brian “Ronald” (Bonita) Martin Jr.; and Cheryl Martin; her grandchildren: Kamayla and KJ Sherman, Acadia and Ailani Tripp, Jourdan and Joshua Martin and Quintin Martin; her sister Carol  Bartholomew, her brother David (Gabi) Norton; as well as nieces and nephews Alan (Debbie) Bartholomew; Amy (Mike) Berry, Justin (Jen) Gerould, Jocelyn (Garron) Angelmeyer, Jamie (Jeff) Campbell, Jordan (Shannon) Gerould; Stefani (Pascal) König, Tony (Katti Stöckler) Norton, great niece Katelyn (Terry) Brown and great nephew Kenny Bartholomew, along with many other great nieces and nephews. Also surviving is her cherished friend Dana Marie and her children Liam and Alison Dalrymple.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother George and Doris Norton, her sister Betty Gerould, her brother-in-law Louis Bartholomew, and her husband Brian R. Martin Sr.

Finally, It is essential to understand that friendship was a major theme of Jeanne’s life, and she requested the following be shared with everyone she loved:

“Friendship is different from all other relationships. Unlike acquaintanceship, it is based on love. Unlike lovers and married couples, it is free of jealousy. Unlike children and parents, it knows neither criticism nor resentment. Friendship has no status in law. Business partnerships are based on a contract. So is marriage. Parents are bound by the law, as are children. But friendship is entered into freely given, freely exercised.

Friends never cheat each other, or take advantage, or lie. Friends do not spy on one another, yet they have no secrets. Friends glory in each other’s successes and are downcast by the failures. Friends minister to each other, nurse each other. Friends give to each other, worry about each other, and stand always ready to help. Perfect friendship is rarely achieved, but at its heights it is an ecstasy.”

-from Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, “Comrades” (Simon and Schuster, 1999)

According to Jeanne’s wishes, cremation has taken place and her phenomenal life will be celebrated with friends and family on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at 3:00 PM, at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S. 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Reception to follow at Langeland Reception Hall. Donations in her honor may be made to Georgia Public Broadcasting (www.gpb.org/support) or the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission (www.kzoogospel.org). Please visit Jeanne’s personalized online guestbook at https://www.langelands.com