Claudia Martin

Claudia Johnson Martin, age 74, of Little Rock, died Friday, May 28, 2021 at Encore Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Born Wednesday, April 16, 1947 to the late Olen James Johnson and Pauline “Polly” Shewmake Johnson of Searcy, Arkansas.  She attended Searcy schools and was a member of the Drill Team in high school.  It was also in these formative years when she began her love for playing the piano.  She attended Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where she was a member of the EEE Women’s Social Club.  As a young adult she worked as an elementary school teacher at Baker Elementary in Little Rock and West Point Elementary School in White County.  Soon after college she began serving as the pianist at Temple Baptist Church in Little Rock where she met her husband in 1973.  She was a faithful member of Little Rock’s First Baptist Church since 1987 and served in many capacities such as the choir, handbells, the Living Christmas Tree, orchestra, and youth choir accompanist.

She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, R. Wayne Martin, one daughter Courtney Martin Palmisano of Princeton, Texas; one son Russell Wayne Martin, Jr and his wife Emily Appleton Martin of Little Rock, Arkansas; four grandchildren Kylie Estelle Martin, Michael James Palmisano, Cole William Martin, and Julianna Ryan Palmisano; and several cousins and close friends.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 62 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212; or Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org/arkansas, 11300 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite 205A | Little Rock, AR 72212, 501-265-0027.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Little Rock. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 3, 2021 at First Baptist Church Little Rock with interment preceding at Roselawn Memorial Park. Online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com.