LeJune Joseph Martin Sr.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church for LeJune Joseph Martin Sr., 71, who passed away Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at his residence in Crowley. Interment will be in South Crowley Cemetery.
LeJune Joseph Martin Sr. was born on Feb. 1, 1944, in Crowley, from the union of Grace Bellard Martin and Junius James Martin. LeJune was taught to love the Lord early in life and was baptized, and grew up attending Jerusalem Baptist Church with his mother. He would later in life give himself fully and surrender to Jesus Christ. LeJune began attending Masses with his wife at St. Theresa Catholic Church, studied and converted to Catholicism.
LeJune was a 1962 graduate of H.C. Ross High School and attended Southern University. In November, 1962, he began serving his term of active military duty in the United States Army. He served in one of the Army’s highly decorated and most elite units, the 82nd Airborne Division, “All-Americans,” as a Paratrooper and Infantry Pathfinder during the Vietnam War Era.
On Aug. 19, 1967, LeJune married his high school sweetheart, Lettie Oletheia James. Through their union they became the parents of three children: Terrence Paul, Carmella Yvette and LeJune Joseph Jr.
LeJune possessed a very strong work ethic and for many years was employed by South Central Bell Telephone Co., the U.S. Postal Service and various other jobs. LeJune became a faithful member of St. Theresa Catholic Church and served as member of the Salt of the Earth Men’s Choir. Despite glycemic blindness that was setting in, he did not allow it to prevent him from fulfilling his desire to serve the Lord and His church in some capacity.
LeJune’s nickname was “Smooth;” he was a natural athlete and he excelled at almost every sport and activity in which he participated. His greatest enjoyment came from bowling, softball, shooting pool, playing ping-pong, playing cards and dominos with his friends; he had a lifelong passion for fishing and barbequing for the family. Most recently he was busy gardening, feeding the birds, taking daily walks at the track and enjoying occasional trips to the casino with his wife.
On Aug. 4, 2015, LeJune’s work on earth was finished and he was called home suddenly to be with the Lord. LeJune leaves to his memories and his passing from this life: his faithful wife of 48 years, Lettie Martin; two sons: Terrence Martin (wife Kimberly) of League City, Texas, and LeJune Martin Jr. (wife Shavonda) of Lafayette; two daughters: Carmella Martin of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Shauntessa Board of Lafayette; two brothers: Anthony Martin (late wife Alice) of Breaux Bridge and Charles J. Martin; one sister: Antonia G. Dugas of Alexandria; two sisters-in-law: Judy Mayfield Martin and Celestine Harmon Martin; three grandsons: Derek Paul Martin, Terrence Joseph Martin and Major Byers; one granddaughter, Journey Alyssa Martin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
LeJune is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Oscar J. and Elizabeth Martin; maternal grandparents, Oscar and Virginia Savoy Bellard; his parents, Junius J. and Grace B. Martin; two brothers, Lester James Martin Sr. and Donald Ray Martin Sr.; six sisters: Jettie Martin Simien, Gloria Martin, Vera Martin Comeaux, Ethel G. Martin Ardoin Jackson, Mary Ann Martin and Geraldine Tezeno; one granddaughter, Ayanna Talise Martin; and one grandson, Ian Joseph Martin.
Visitation will be held Monday, Aug. 10, at St. Theresa Catholic Church from 8:15 a.m. until time of services with a rosary to be recited at 9 a.m.
View the obituary and sign the guestbook online at www.syriefh.com.
Syrie Funeral Home, Inc., is in charge of arrangements.