Rev. Dr. Arrold Nunn Martin was the second child of the late Mr. William Nunn and Mrs. Ida Kathryn Martin, born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 9, 1953, where he transitioned on March 17, 2023. Arrold loved playing baseball and football, all televised sports, the Boys Scouts, R&B music, and NASCAR, collecting and racing mini-NASCARs, winning many awards.
Arrold attended St. Vincent de Paul School, Father Ryan High School, Tennessee State University, and graduated from UT, Nashville, in Biology and Chemistry. His goal was a Medical Doctor, but God had other plans.
In 1970, Arrold began work at United Parcel Service a truck driver, retiring a senior account executive after 42 years in 2012. He started his Amway business Y & M Associates (You and Me), with a strong desire to be an entrepreneur and encourage others to become financially stable.
Arrold, baptized at birth as Roman Catholic, found most of his family were Baptist and Methodist church leaders. In college, baptized at First Baptist Church East Nashville, being called to the ministry, earning Master of Divinity in 1988 at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in 1996. After ordination, he served as First Baptist East Nashville’s Associate Pastor, Sunday school teacher, and Scout Master of the church’s Boy Scout Troop.
Arrold moved to First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, serving faithfully in many capacities including interim Pastor three times and Assistant to four Pastors. Under his leadership as Interim Pastor, they raised $600,000.00+ allowing the congregation to return to its present site on Rosa Parks Drive. He served as 1st Vice President of the American Baptist Churches of The South (ABSCOT) for six years, and four years as President.
At TSU, he pledged Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity on the 1972 “Fine Nine” line. “Quiet Fire,” as Chapter Polemarch (President), during his tenure the chapter historically claimed three of five national elected offices available to undergraduates. Arrold, a Life Member, first joined Nashville Alumni Chapter, later becaming a charter member of Hendersonville Alumni Chapter, leading programs in support of youth leadership and development.
He is survived by his wife, Connie Jamison Martin; children, Aaliyah (Terrell) Hunt & Sean Martin; mother, Ida K. Martin; siblings, Quinta Martin & Clarence Lonell (Linda) Martin; grandchildren, Christian & Joshua Hunt; nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. Public Viewing at Highland Hills Funeral Home, 2422 Brick Church Pike is Saturday, March 25, 4 – 7 pm.
At First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, 625 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. on Sunday, March 26: Family Visitation, 2 pm – 3 pm; Kappa Alpha Psi Ceremony, 3:00 pm – 3:20pm; Celebration of Life Service at 3:30 pm, Interment on Monday, March 27 at 11am in Christ Church Cemetery, 15478 Old Hickory Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Hendersonville Alumni Chapter, P. O. Box 9542, Hendersonville, TN 37077 or to Tennessee State University Foundation, Box 9542, 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209.
Among the three national officers of Kappa Alpha Psi elected during the tenure of Dr. Martin from the Alpha Theta Chapter are two current long-term Nashville Pride staff columnists, Willam T. Robinson, Jr. and Cass F.L. Teague, Jr., along with their Koldblooded 22 Line Brother H. DeWayne Armstrong, all native Nashvillians.
