Geri Lynn Martin

Geri Lynn Martin, 55, of Wharton, WV, passed away on Friday, October 4, 2024. 

Geri Lynn was the daughter of Janet and Ronnie Brown and the late Rubin Lee Coffey. She was the oldest daughter and “second mom” to her siblings Bridgette (Bobby) Willis, and the late Rubin Lee Coffey II, Yvonne (Chris) Ball, and James Harmon. She was married to the love of her life, Phillip Martin, for 32 years. Geri had one daughter, Cori (Thomas) Pettry, and one granddaughter, Talia Pettry, who was her pride and joy. 

Geri is survived by mother-in-law, Jeanie King; in-laws, DeAnna (Richard) Ramsey, Chris (Debbie) Martin, and their children Brett Ramsey, Kayla (Robbie) Burnett, Ryan Ball, Blake and Emma (Macy) Martin, Trey, Drake, and Cyrus Coffey, Madison, Kamdyn and JT Thompson. 

The beauty of Geri Lynn is that she not only had family by blood, but gained more family members by choice. Some of these members are notably: second mother Lana and the late Glenn Jarvis, and siblings, the late Samantha Welch, Glenn Jarvis II, Brian Jarvis, and Shane Jarvis, along with their wonderful family members; sisters Betty Brown, Sandra Deck, Melissa Legg, and Sabrina Shrader; children Hannah (Nick) Bartic, Cody Brown, and SO many more than we could name. 

Geri was boisterous and full of life. She never met a stranger. She was a fierce protector of her family, and champion for Van High School, a school she never attended but grew to love. She managed lifeguards at Water Ways, was a member of Van High’s booster club, and was dubbed “GerBear” and “Mama Martin” by many who knew her. Something that her family was most proud of about her was how thoughtful she was. She was known to purchase “just because” gifts for co-workers, friends, and anyone she cherishes. She gave freely and loved freely, and her generosity was as big as her personality, her laugh, and her network of friends. She was always cracking jokes and making people laugh. Geri was known to be the life of the party. 

To honor Geri, feel free to wear your favorite Bulldog T-Shirt to the funeral. 

Services will be Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 2:00pm at Handley Funeral Home with Phil Rowe and Glen Jarvis officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flower donations, we ask that you donate towards Browning’s Martial Arts Academy’s wrestling team. She was always supporting others and there’s no one she’d love to support more than her TaliBug.