Obituary for Jennie Lou Martin Tomlin (Gillon)
“With humbleness, I’ll dare to try
To show you how I see the sky,
The sea,
Majestic mountains, and mighty trees.
Through nature’s gifts I’ll try to please
Your eyes.”
Jennie Martin Tomlin
Jennie Martin Tomlin, 84, of Concord, North Carolina, passed away with a smile on Sunday, April 5, 2020, in her home. She went, in the words of her great-granddaughters, Kennedy and Paisley, to “go paint sunsets with God.”
Jennie was an artist in every sense of the word. She loved color and light and shadow, and the endless, infinite combinations they could make, and the stories they could tell, and the emotions they could draw from deep within the hearts of their witnesses. This is the gift she left to us. Using color and light and shadow, she created meaning and memory, and as with everything else in her life, she did so with great love, and passion, and encouragement.
Jennie was born on June 17, 1935 in Cabarrus County to the late Ralph K. Gillon and Sadie H. Gillon. She graduated from Concord High School in 1953. In 1958, she married Donald E. Martin, a military journalist and pilot, and spent the next fifteen years with him, moving around the world and raising her family. Upon Donald’s death in 1971, she returned home to Concord, where, in 1975 she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 1980, she married Dr. E. M. “Tommie” Tomlin, and together they created a home filled with joy, love, and laughter.
She was longtime member of Central United Methodist church in Concord.
She was preceded in death by her husband, E. M. “Tommie” Tomlin, M.D. From Heaven, she will be watching over her family: her children, Brad Martin and wife Shanna, Mike Martin, and Colleen Watts; step-children, Ann Adams and husband Rayford “Trip,” John Tomlin and wife Pamela, Tracy Tomlin and wife LuAnn, and Michael Tomlin and wife Gail; her sister, Sarah Davis and husband P. Michael; her grandchildren, Amanda Crenshaw and husband Andrew, Jamie Martin, Tommie Martin and wife Rachel, Shay Carnes and husband Jeff, Allison Eury and husband John Jacob, Lawson Martin, Corey Martin, Clay Martin, Abby Martin, Josh Adams and wife Elizabeth, Jenny Ledford and husband Howie, Abigail Hartley and Sam, John L. Tomlin and wife Jennifer, Jessica Tomlin, and Michael W. Tomlin and wife Claire.
A private graveside service for Jennie will be held at Oakwood Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. The family wishes to thank everyone for their love and support.
To show you how I see the sky,
The sea,
Majestic mountains, and mighty trees.
Through nature’s gifts I’ll try to please
Your eyes.”
Jennie Martin Tomlin
Jennie Martin Tomlin, 84, of Concord, North Carolina, passed away with a smile on Sunday, April 5, 2020, in her home. She went, in the words of her great-granddaughters, Kennedy and Paisley, to “go paint sunsets with God.”
Jennie was an artist in every sense of the word. She loved color and light and shadow, and the endless, infinite combinations they could make, and the stories they could tell, and the emotions they could draw from deep within the hearts of their witnesses. This is the gift she left to us. Using color and light and shadow, she created meaning and memory, and as with everything else in her life, she did so with great love, and passion, and encouragement.
Jennie was born on June 17, 1935 in Cabarrus County to the late Ralph K. Gillon and Sadie H. Gillon. She graduated from Concord High School in 1953. In 1958, she married Donald E. Martin, a military journalist and pilot, and spent the next fifteen years with him, moving around the world and raising her family. Upon Donald’s death in 1971, she returned home to Concord, where, in 1975 she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Arts from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In 1980, she married Dr. E. M. “Tommie” Tomlin, and together they created a home filled with joy, love, and laughter.
She was longtime member of Central United Methodist church in Concord.
She was preceded in death by her husband, E. M. “Tommie” Tomlin, M.D. From Heaven, she will be watching over her family: her children, Brad Martin and wife Shanna, Mike Martin, and Colleen Watts; step-children, Ann Adams and husband Rayford “Trip,” John Tomlin and wife Pamela, Tracy Tomlin and wife LuAnn, and Michael Tomlin and wife Gail; her sister, Sarah Davis and husband P. Michael; her grandchildren, Amanda Crenshaw and husband Andrew, Jamie Martin, Tommie Martin and wife Rachel, Shay Carnes and husband Jeff, Allison Eury and husband John Jacob, Lawson Martin, Corey Martin, Clay Martin, Abby Martin, Josh Adams and wife Elizabeth, Jenny Ledford and husband Howie, Abigail Hartley and Sam, John L. Tomlin and wife Jennifer, Jessica Tomlin, and Michael W. Tomlin and wife Claire.
A private graveside service for Jennie will be held at Oakwood Cemetery. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. The family wishes to thank everyone for their love and support.