August 1, 1962 ~ July 11, 2022
Jonathan Dirck Martin, 59, died Saturday, July 11, 2022, at his home in Chatham County, North Carolina.
He was the first child born to Rev. Alfred Clark Martin and Mrs. Diane Sadler Martin on August 1, 1962, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dirck is survived by his two daughters, Hannah Avery Martin, Mallory Clark Martin of Richmond, Virginia, and grandson, Brayden Michael Dawson of South Boston, Virginia. Dirck is also survived by his mother, Diane Sadler Martin, of Topping, Virginia, and his eight siblings, Elizabeth M. Burfiend and husband Eric of Richmond, Laura D. Martin and companion, George Athas of Richmond, B. Kyle Martin of Richmond, A. Brian Martin of Richmond, Heather Swift and husband Doug of Hudson, Ohio, C. Bruce Martin and wife Sirlei of Athens, Ohio, Finley L. Martin, of Roanoke, Virginia, and Anna Maas and husband Ben, of Warrenton, Virginia. He is survived by a host of nieces and nephews, his former wife, Lysaundra C. Jones, and former mother-in-law, Rachel A. Smith, both of South Boston.
Dirck was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Alfred Clark Martin of Yorktown, Virginia, his paternal grandparents, Dr. John W. Martin and Mrs. Blanche Clark Martin of Yorktown, and his maternal grandparents, Judge Robert Watson Sadler and Mrs. Elizabeth Dey Sadler of Charlottesville.
Dirck spent his young childhood in Kenbridge, Virginia, and later moved with his family to Halifax, Virginia, where his father was a minister of St. John’s Episcopal Church on Mountain Road from 1965-1993. There he gained a life-long appreciation of church, family, and friends. Dirck graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in 1992. He lived in Chapel Hill for the remainder of his life, as he loved the creativity and kindness of the area. Dirck was employed at Big Valley Auto as a mechanic and worked with several local landscaping companies until he developed his skill in stone and rock masonry. He ran his own business, Everlasting Stone Masonry, until his death.
Dirck enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, playing the trumpet, guitar, and harmonica. He loved dancing, attending music festivals, tie-dyeing, and making friends along his adventures. Most of all he loved sharing his zest for life with his children, grandson, family, and friends. He shared his vegetables with his family and friends and often shared his homemade canning, breads, and pies.
Dirck shared his belief in God and his positive outlook on life with everyone he met along his way. He traveled to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Amsterdam, China Tibet, Nepal Thailand, Mexico and Guatemala. He enjoyed visiting friends and family throughout the United States spending time in nature. He quickly became friends with everyone he met.
Funeral services are planned for Saturday, July 30, 2022, at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Mountain Road in Halifax, Virginia, at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow in the church undercroft. In lieu of flowers, please consider a local charity close to your heart, as Dirck supported several local charities in Chapel Hill, and tithed to several nature conservation groups.