January 14, 1953 – September 6, 2023

Martin Hammond was loving, giving, funny, outgoing, charming, and one of the most kindhearted people you could have ever met. He never met a stranger. He could make conversation and a connection with anyone, as many of us can attest to. Even on his hardest days his strength was seen by his ability to spread his naturally positive, joking disposition with any person around him. Because of this rare gift, his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him. 

Martin Frederick Hammond was born on January 14^th, 1953 in Orange, New Jersey to Francis and Violette Hammond. He was the 9^th of 10 children and was lucky to have had a rare childhood experience living overseas in Rabat, Morocco for the duration of his father’s tenure. His father served as a diplomat assigned to the US embassy in Morocco from 1956-1964, during which Martin attended Saint Exupery Catholic school and LaSalle grade school. He always spoke fondly about learning French and being immersed in the cultural experiences of Morocco and was glowingly proud of his parents’ accomplishments. 

During his high school years back in Orange, NJ he attended Our Lady of the Valley Catholic High School for his freshman & sophomore year. He then went on to graduate from Orange High school, where he ran long distance races on the school’s track team, swam for the swim team and was a lifeguard on his summer breaks. 

Martin graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ and while there worked in the local hospital which he recalled as a great experience helping people, and even kept some of the scrubs from that time to this day. He has always had a natural way of being able to talk to anyone and make them feel at ease and therefore graduated with a BA in Communications and worked in sales and underwriting for large insurance companies throughout his lifetime.

In 1978 Martin along with his brother Joseph and lifelong friend Bert Wall decided to take a leap of faith and move to Houston, Texas. Martin always talked about how New Jersey is home, but he was so glad to be in Texas for the warm weather and often regaled us with cold winter stories of ice scraping, shoveling mounds of snow and sledding at the park near his childhood home. He also lived awhile in the Dallas/Carrollton area where he joined the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Dallas Alumni Chapter in the spring of 1985. Martin was very proud to be a Kappa and was always happy to break out his crimson and cream cane and make us laugh with his kappa walk. 

Texas quickly became home; ultimately settled in Missouri City, TX with his beloved wife Lucretia Batts Hammond of 25 years. Martin was raised Catholic, attended Wheeler Baptist Church with his wife Lucretia early on and then joined the Greater Houston Church. Naturally gifted with figuring out how to repair things, Martin was adept at working around his house and with cars. He enjoyed staying up to date with the newest technology; often seen with a brand-new gadget and even had an eBay store as a hobby after retirement. He was also an import sports car enthusiast and a sci-fi TV show/movie buff. In addition, we will never forget he was a great cook and loved to make his specialty Italian dishes, paella for special occasions and his mother’s oyster stuffing and gravy for Thanksgiving. 

September 6, 2023 marks the day Martin transitioned from this earthly plain to be with the Lord and to join loved ones whom he sorely missed. He fought the good fight and beat the odds many times.  Now that he is beyond sickness and pain’s reach, we take heart to know that now because he had hope in the Lord to renew his strength, he can now soar on wings like eagles and run and not grow weary (Isaiah 40:31).  

Martin was preceded in death by his wife Lucretia Batts Hammond who we all miss dearly; his parents: Francis M. Hammond and Violette A. Hammond; siblings: Angela Hammond, Natalie Hammond Elawad, Bertha Hammond, Lea Sampson and Lydia Hammond. 

Those left to cherish precious memories include his 3 children: Veronica Hammond, Lindsey Moore (Justin), Charles Hammond; grandchildren: Rielle and Mason Moore; siblings: Monique Aggrey(Albert), Walda Hammond Ahombo(Gerard), Francis T. Hammond (Charline), Joseph R. Hammond (Sheila). Father-in-law Robert Lee Batts, Jr.; affinal brother Zachary Yamba Sr. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, God children and lifelong friends.