Reverend William Foy Martin was born on this day in 1912, in Mississippi, to James Thomas and Louvinia Garrard Martin.
Foy attended Perkingston Junior College, Appalachian State University, Louisiana State University, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Foy played football and boxed in college, and worked as a coach at Appalachian. He was later head coach and athletic director at Wingate College.
Foy served in the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II as an instructor. After the war, he decided to enter the ministry, and attended schools to prepare for the ministry. His first pastor position was in Caroleen.
He came to Winston-Salem to be pastor at College Park Baptist Church in 1956. He served as minster there for 24 years, retiring in 1980. After he retired, he continued to serve the church as pastor emeritus until his death in 2007.
During his time as a minster, Reverend Martin welcomed babies into the church family on Baby’s Day. He baptized new believers of all ages, and married couples that he ministered to in pre-marital counseling. He visited the sick and grieved with the families of the departed.
Reverend Martin guided College Park members during the formative years of a young church. He oversaw the building projects that took the church from a small brick chapel to a church with a sanctuary and an education building. He helped establish a focus and a spirit for the church. More importantly, his calm manner and strong Christian faith were a blessing to everyone he met.
Foy married Ethele Moore Martin in 1940, and she was his partner in his life and in his ministry.
