-
Cedric Martin
By Vivian Morgan
Former Editor
A ripple ran through Hart County on Monday and the effects of it are life-altering. Our friend, our family, and our confidant Cedric (Satchamo) Martin transitioned from this life to the next. While the community is in shock and mourns his untimely passing, the best tribute I believe we can give is to share our gratitude to him for welcoming us into his life. It has truly been an honor and pleasure.
Cedric was so many things to so many people and, in every way, he was the anchor of his big, beautiful, loving family. With his passing, that love and influence continues. His powerful presence will continue in the life lessons he learned and passed on from his parents and grandparents; the compassion and experiences he shared with his siblings; and the tremendous legacy of love, commitment, and honor he passes on to his daughter, nephews, nieces, and the entire Martin family.
If you ask dozens of people about Cedric, you will gather dozens of different stories. Everyone has a Cedric story. While many of them revolve around his signature barbecue ribs and, possibly, moonshine, others center around good conversation, good music, and lots of laughter. Cedric always knew how to bring out the laughter. His smile, laughter, and big hugs are forever ingrained in our hearts.
Like so many, I was not just fortunate enough to call Cedric my friend but also my family. He was family of the heart – the ones you choose for yourself. Not only did he treat me as a sister but he never failed to include me and my husband in family functions. Our friendship was one of unconditional love and for that I will forever be grateful.
Many in the community have heard bits and pieces of Cedric’s story. It is not one for the faint of heart but the story of a man who triumphed over life’s circumstances. He was never shy about sharing his past and he used his past experiences as a positive vessel for changing the lives of young men in the community. He wanted them to know they were not defined by their present. Regardless of the circumstances where they currently found themselves, they could turn their lives around. Their lives are now his enduring testimony. It was, again, that unconditional love of his.
Cedric’s love for Hart County and its residents was unmatched and selfless. He knew everyone and their life stories. That’s because he took the time to talk and listen to people. Whether he had known you his entire life or not, he treated you as such.
For the last five years, Cedric and I had been working on a book about his life. If you knew Cedric, you know it was hard to get him to sit for very long and focus on one thing. He was all over the place. But, even with that, we managed to record more than 25 hours of his life on tape. We talked in my home. We talked while boating on Lake Hartwell. We talked while sitting out by a fire and drinking moonshine. We talked and recorded every opportunity we got. And we began at the beginning with his boyhood in his beloved Hart County. He pulled no punches. We discussed the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly.
It is rare to cross paths with someone who exudes openness as well as brutal honesty. Cedric was that extraordinary individual. He did not waste time on the woulda-coulda-shouldas. There is a lesson in that for all of us.
Cedric, I will forever miss answering the phone to, “Hey, Queen Lady.” But I will also smile every time I think about it. We are all better, my brother, for having you grace our lives with your presence.