Olimpia Silvia Martin

Olimpia Silvia Martin, 75, died Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born in Havana, Cuba on April 15, 1947. The circumstances that brought her and her family to the United States in 1960 were not unlike those of thousands of Cubans who fled their country.

The value of an education was instilled in Olimpia by her parents at a very early age. She worked hard to learn a new language and eventually became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Her appreciation of this country and the opportunities it afforded her and her family cannot be captured in words.

Olimpia was a graduate of Georgia College at Milledgeville and obtained a master’s degree from the University of West Florida. She spent her career teaching in the public school system in Santa Rosa County, Florida. After retirement, she moved to Birmingham, Alabama.

She had a passion for life and understood the true value of making special memories with others. She loved spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Those opportunities were especially meaningful to her.

Olimpia attended Double Oak Community Church, Birmingham. She had a passion for children’s ministry and never passed up an opportunity to volunteer time to serve in that capacity.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Julio and Lillian San Martin, and her husband, Frank G. Martin.

Olimpia is survived by her daughter, Olympia Faulkner (Mark); son, Antonio Ballagas (Ashley); sisters, Marta E. San Martin and Cuqui San Martin; brother, Julio San Martin; grandchildren, Sarah, Sam, Carson, Lillian, and Brady; along with numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

A visitation will be held at Double Oak Community Church, Mt. Laurel, on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. followed by A Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. at the church, 115 Olmsted Street, Birmingham, AL 35242. A separate service will be held on a later date for the interment of Olimpia's ashes at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and The Salvation Army.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for Olimpia Silvia Martin's family.