Ssg S. Army

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - SSG Vernon William Martin, U. S. Army, 25, of Savannah, Georgia, husband of Brittany Akeya Murray Martin, died Saturday, October 3, 2009, while serving his country in Afghanistan.
Born March 20, 1984, in Brooklyn, New York, he was a son of Connie Brown and George William Martin. Vernon began his education at St. Mark's Lutheran School in Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Savannah, Georgia, where he continued his education in the Savannah - Chatham County Public School system. Vernon graduated from Johnson High School in 2002. It was at Johnson that he met his future wife. After graduating high school, Vernon briefly held other positions before, at the age of 19, becoming a Juvenile Correction Officer at the Chatham County Youth Detention Center. It was there that he decided Youth Development would become a main focus in his future. His proudest moment was the birth of his son Nasim W. Martin in November 2002. Shortly before his enlistment, Vernon and Brittany married on August 7, 2004, and their family continued to grow with the addition of their daughter's Zakiyah and Chastity. Vernon was a Christian and was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He was currently stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a light wheel mechanic. Vernon's military accomplishment's include The Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service  Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon 2, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Driver Mechanic Badge. Vernon always did things whole hearted.
Surviving are his loving and caring wife, Brittany Martin of Savannah, Georgia; two daughters, Zakiyah Akeya Martin and Chastity Nala Martin; one son, Nasim William Martin all of Savannah; his mother, Connie Brown of Savannah, Georgia; his father, George William Martin of Queens, New York; one sister, Vanessa K. Jackson and her husband, Tyrellious, of Savannah, Georgia; one brother, Joseph J. Steward and his wife, Alexa, of Brooklyn, New York; his maternal grandparents, Louise and John Marshall of Brooklyn, New York, and his maternal grandfather, Murphy Ponder of Wadley, Georgia; nieces, Kassandra J. Steward of, Brooklyn, New York and Tyra D. D. Guyton of, Savannah, Georgia; nephews, Jarel O. Steward of, Brooklyn, New York and Tyrik D. D. Guyton of Savannah, Georgia; his mother in-law, Sonia Manior and her husband, Larry, his father in-law, Michael Geiger, his brothers in-law, Michael and Ronell Murray, and his sister-in-law, Youlanda Murray, all of Savannah, Georgia, and aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and friends.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o'clock Sunday evening at Gamble Funeral Service, 410 Stephenson Avenue.
The funeral service will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at St. John's Baptist Church conducted by The Reverend Dr. George P. Lee III. Interment, with full military honors, will be in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be members of the United States Army.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Gray, Mark Gray, Tyrellous Guyton, Owen Marshall, Michael Murray, Ronell Murray, Antonio Brown and Michael Brown.
The family of SSG Vernon William Martin would like to acknowledge and thank all for the acts of kindness shown to them for their loved one during this difficult time. The flowers, love, cards, and prayers are all instrumental in our ability to stand strong and in unity. Again we the family would like to express a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone in the community and abroad.  May God continue to Bless and keep you.