Dr. Freeman Martin III

Dr. Martin was born on June 1, 1937 in Carrollton Mississippi, the second of three children, to Freeman Martin II and Beulah Cain Martin, who preceded him in death. His sister, Joyce Martin Lee and his brother, Harry Cain, Sr. also preceded him.

Dr. Martin was baptized at Helem Chapel C.M.E. church at an early age and attended elementary school in the Carroll County Mississippi Public School System. Subsequently the family migrated to Indianapolis, Indiana where they transferred to Phillips Temple C.ME. Church and the Indianapolis Public Schools System when Freeman was nine years of age. He was a bright and curious child and excelled academically. While serving as a school crossing guard Freeman saved the life of a fellow student. Because of his brave and heroic actions he was ceremoniously awarded a Medal of Valor by then Vice President of the United States, Alben Barkley, in Washington DC.

Dr. Martin was a graduate of Shortridge High School, Class of 1957. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana in 1961 and earned his Medical Doctorate in the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1967.

Dr. Martin was a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1976. He was one of only a few African-American Officers at Camp Atterbury at that time. He received a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Service from the United States Armed Forces.

Dr. Martin married the love of his life, Elizabeth "Libby" Davis Martin in October of 1965. He adored his family, and was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, nephew, and cousin. He was deeply devoted to his four beautiful daughters, Renee, Joy, Jennifer and Heather.

Dr. Martin was in association with Dr. E. Paul Thomas of the Mapleton Medical Center prior to opening his own private practice at the Forum of the Five Caesars, located at 3901 N. Meridian Street. He maintained his private, independently owned and operated practice for 50 years. He was fondly referred to as "The Meridian Street Doctor" having had four different locations on that notable corridor. He truly loved practicing medicine and his patients and he never viewed it as a job but as a privilege. His concept of medicine fostered a new kind of partnership in which both the doctor and the patient were committed to a common goal of prevention and risk reduction through continuous and comprehensive treatment.

Dr. Martin was the Medical Director of Citizen's Ambulatory Health Center for two years from 1974 to 1976 and held memberships in numerous professional organizations. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice, a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of The American Medical Association, The Indiana State Medical Association, The Marion County Medical Society, The National Medical Society, and The American Academy of Medical Directors. He was a Clinical Preceptor for The Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. In addition to his professional societies he was a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. / Iota Lambda Chapter, Sigma Pi Phi/ Alpha Eta Boule, a life member of The NAACP, 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, The Urban League, and The National Association of Physician Broadcasters. He was a spokesman in Indiana and nationally on Healthful Lifestyles in medicine and also served as Medical Consultant to a local television series "Indy Today". He was inducted into the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs and L'Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Degustateurs Chapitre d'Indianapolis, Inc in 1997.

Boards in which Freeman served include: The Boys Club of America, The Children's Museum, The Indiana State Board of Health, and The Marion County Medical Society Commission for Impaired Physicians, The United Negro College Fund Medical Committee, and the Marion County Sheriff's Department Merit Board in which he was the first African-American to serve.

Freeman was an incredibly kind and generous man who dearly loved the Lord, his family and his friends. His magnetic personality enveloped everyone he encountered and he never met a stranger. Entertaining, gourmet cooking and gardening were his passions. Through hard work and ingenuity he was instrumental in developing and sustaining a tropical garden paradise in his own backyard in the state of Indiana. He delighted in sharing his garden with horticulturalists from the Indianapolis Museum of Art, now Newfields. He thoroughly enjoyed "Château Martin" where Sunday dinners were the standard with his daughters as his sous chefs and often cooked with his wife while entertaining friends. These memories will live eternally in our hearts and minds. Freeman was a voracious reader and a lifelong learner, acquiring a multitude of credentials and was committed to improving the world around him.

Dr. Martin is survived by his wife of 52 years Elizabeth "Libby" Davis Martin, daughters Renee (Vernon) Carter, Joy M Jones, Jennifer (Anthony) Curry and Heather M Adebayo, sister/cousin Grace Turner Bowers (Chicago, IL), cousin George ( Geraldine) Eskridge, 8 cherished grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and a large extended family especially Edna B Senour, his devoted nurse of 45 years.