
William Renault Martin
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William Renault Martin Jr., 38, of Athens, Georgia, died unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 13. He was born on Aug. 13, 1984 in Columbia, South Carolina, and was a loving son, father and husband.
He is survived by his wife, Nicole; two children, Gage and Kuria; and his parents, Billy and Debora Martin of Locust Grove, Georgia. He is preceded in death by his son Gabriel.
Will was known for his intelligence and quiet intensity. Perhaps he recognized himself in the beautiful complexity of the natural world, which he so vividly captured on the page. Transitioning into a different mind; a different world, when hearing the words he would write.
Will's life changed when Gabriel was born in 2002. Writing in his journal in 2018, he recalled a moment in early fatherhood: "He was approximately four years of age, romping around playing in Mom and Dad's backyard. It was spring, or rather, I remember it as being spring. I wept and laughed watching him run and bounce around in the grass to the light and wispy sounds of Chopin's piano- an appropriate accompaniment to his tiny-tike shenanigans. It was a moment in life that was perfect."
The family will hold a visitation at Dillard Funeral Home in Troy, Alabama, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, followed by a graveside service at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
