Virginia Martin

Virginia Lee Mayes Martin was born on September 26, 1916 in the New Canaan Community of Mayes County, Oklahoma to James Hall Mayes and Sallie Pearl Cochran Mayes. She passed away in Tulsa on April 24, 2020. Her family moved to Ponca City in 1925 and she graduated from high school there. She graduated from Tonkowa Junior College and Central State Teacher’s College, later earning her master’s degree from Oklahoma State University. She taught school at several small country schools before moving to Pryor to teach. She helped her parents build a home on her mother’s Indian allotment land near Greenbriar community. She married Ray Martin on August 12, 1947 and from their union came one son, Garry R. Martin of Tulsa. They made their home in Vinita and Virginia taught in Vinita schools for many years, retiring in 1978. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Vinita and was active in church and civic organizations. Virginia was a proud citizen of the Cherokee tribe. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ray and two sisters, Mary Powers and Lucille Beasley. She is survived by her son, Garry R. Martin & wife, Jean of Tulsa and one grandson, Joe R. Martin of Tulsa. A graveside service honoring the life of Virginia will be held at West Cemetery in Spavinaw, Oklahoma Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 2:00 PM.  Services are under the direction of Luginbuel Funeral Home, Vinita, OK. Condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com or our Luginbuel Facebook page.