Obituary: Lou Ellen Martin

Lou Ellen Martin, age 82 and lifelong resident of Winter Garden, Florida, passed away at Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, Florida, July 26, 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family. Lou was the daughter of the late Univee Hall Phillips and Ocie Wesley Phillips. She was one of seven children.

She was born and raised in Kinston, Alabama, where she graduated from Kinston High School in 1959. She moved to Winter Garden, Florida, with her husband, Bill Whitman, in 1961, where they raised their two sons, Tony and Jeffrey Whitman.

Lou married Johnnie Martin in 1985. Johnnie passed away in 2019. He had four children: Allen, who passed away in 1989, Neal, Roger and Chad.

Lou worked as the secretary and bookkeeper for Selby and Billy Burch of Burch Properties for 57 years. The Burch family was near and dear to Lou’s heart, and she considered them to be family. Lou will be remembered for the way she loved and cared for her family and the precious voicemails that she would leave her grandchildren.

Lou is preceded in death by her brothers, Ronnie and Earl Phillips, sister, Geraldine Smith.

She is survived by her three sisters, Ann Smith (Jack), Rebecca Matthews and Eulene Jones (Waylon); ex-husband Bill Whitman; two sons, Tony and Jeffrey Whitman (Debbie); four step-children, Allen Martin and spouse Tammy and their daughter, Sarah, along with Neal, Roger and his son Austin, and Chad Martin; grandchildren, Blaise (Jillian), Bradley (Madison), Brittany Whitman and Donna Ross; and numerous close family members and friends.

A celebration of life for Lou will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 428 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, Florida.