It was a benefit ride with a backstory. A moving one at that. When firetrucks, cars, and motorcycles recently lined up to travel the roads between Homer, Toccoa and Clarkesville they rode to help others and to honor the memory of a local son, firefighter and friend.
Clayton Martin was just 20-years old when he died. His mother Juli Tomlin describes him as a young man full of dreams and a keen desire to make a positive difference in the world.
He was her only child.
A basketball player who began playing at the age of three, Martin graduated from Banks County High School with a partial sports scholarship to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. At the end of his freshman season he was sidelined by an injury but worked hard to overcome it and eventually received another scholarship to play basketball at Toccoa Falls College. At 6’8″ he was built for the court but basketball wasn’t his only passion. His mom says Martin also was passionate about helping others. When he turned 18 he became a volunteer firefighter.
She says her son’s decision to become a firefighter was in keeping with his character and a family tradition. Clayton’s stepfather is Clarkesville Fire Captain Johnny Irvin. “Johnny could not have been happier,” Tomlin says. “As Clayton began to train and learn about being a firefighter he loved it! I have been told by other firefighters that he was ‘a natural.'” Martin and Irvin were among the firefighters who responded to the Clarkesville Square fire on March 5 of this year. Tomlin says they went into a burning building together to search for possible victims.
Tomlin says her son planned to become a teacher and high school basketball coach. Shortly before he died he announced he also wanted to attend seminary. She says his decision made sense. “His desire was to help kids on and off the court and bring others to know Christ.”
But then the unthinkable happened.
On May 26 of this year Clayton left work early. It was Memorial Day and he and his girlfriend had decided to go fishing. They went to a pond at Grace Point Ministries in Baldwin, a pond Tomlin says her son knew very well: He had fished there countless times. He rarely went into the water but on this day…Tomlin picks up the story, “We will never know the reason Clayton decided to get in the water that day, as this was very out of character for him, but he went under and never surfaced. The Grace Point Ministries pond is where my baby met Jesus.”
The Bible says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” By all accounts Clayton Martin was called. He certainly loved God. But to lose your only child to such a senseless tragedy, where’s the ‘good’ in that? Juli Tomlin found it. Soon after her son’s death she established the Clayton Martin Foundation.
“Clayton was on fire for God and was working hard to be a Godly man,” Tomlin says. “He loved basketball and teaching others about basketball and he loved working in the fire services. He had dedicated his life to helping others and we feel that we should carry that forward with the Foundation in his memory.”
Tomlin says the foundation’s mission is to provide financial help for young people so they can participate in and enjoy many of the things Clayton embraced in his life. “Our desire is to help kids with scholarships for sports camps, sports and academic scholarships, survival swim training and Christian camps. We hope to grow and expand our outreach as time goes on. We are so grateful to everyone that has supported The Clayton Martin Foundation.”
And support it they did. On October 25 a stream of vehicles snaked its way through Clayton Martin’s old stomping grounds in northeast Georgia. The benefit ride raised money for the foundation and those in it displayed their love for a man whose life was cut short far too soon.
Tomlin says she is grateful to all who took part. She calls it a “true labor of love.”
The love flowed heavenward that day as riders released balloons into the sky outside Banks County High School. Tomlin says the balloon release was in memory of all eight of the BCHS students and graduates, including Clayton, who have lost their lives this year. It was a simple gesture with profound significance and just one more way Juli Tomlin is keeping her son’s memory alive.
To learn more about the Clayton Martin Foundation visit the organization’s Facebook page.
