Martin Fitzroy Bristol

Martin Fitz Roy Bristol, born September 22, 1939, in Nabaclis, Guyana, died on March 3, 2024, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He was the beloved son of Stonewall Martin Bristol and Inez Gloria Bristol. Despite the early loss of his father, Martin’s life was marked by resilience, compassion, and his witness to Christ.

Growing up in Victoria Village, Guyana, Martin’s caring nature earned him endearing nicknames like Mendel and Preacher Boy. His passion for nursing began during his education at Indian Educational Trust High School and later flourished at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Georgetown, where he was affectionately known as “Brother B” by his peers. As a dedicated nurse, Martin served for 29 years as Civil Servant at the New York State Office of Mental Health, leaving a lasting impact on those he cared for.

The best way to describe Martin’s spiritual journey is ecumenical, promoting worldwide Christian unity. His relationship with Christ began in the Methodist Church when he was baptized as an infant and became a child of God. At age 12 he had a profound spiritual experience of the love of God at his Confirmation and First Communion in the Lutheran Church. Upon moving to Georgetown, he became a member of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and also joined the ecumenical Youth for Christ movement. It was during youth group meetings at the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Georgetown that he met his beloved wife, Pauline Anderson (Richards).

In 1966 he migrated to the United States where he and his family became members of the Ebenezer Pilgrim Holiness Church in the Bronx, NY. Later, they joined the Miller Memorial (Community Worship Center) Church of the Nazarene in Brooklyn, and eventually the Lake Worth Church of the Nazarene in Florida upon retirement. Finally upon moving to Georgia, they joined Gracepoint Church of the Nazarene and then transferred to the Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral in Loganville. Thus concluding his ecumenical journey.

Martin’s devotion to family was unwavering. The mantra for their lives has always been, “Home is where each lives for the other and all live for God.” He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 59 years, Pauline Bristol, and their four children: Matthew, Simon Walter, Persis, and Mark.

Additionally, he is survived by his siblings: Michael, Kenneth, Stella, Hildred, Daphne, Joyann, and their living spouses

His grandchildren from Simon Walter are Brian, Bridget, Jessica, and Lee (Lela). Grandchildren from Persis and Erika Bravo are Evan, Akira, Elena, and Ariel.

He also leaves a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and this list goes on because there was no one he did not call brother, sister or friend.

Martin was preceded in death by his mother, Inez Gloria Bristol, and his siblings Gloria, Stonewall Jr., Doreen, Roy Maxwell, and Alexander.

Martin will be remembered for his exuberant shouts of “Glory!”, his dedication to nursing where he met people at their lowest, his profound kindness, and his quick wit. May he rest in eternal peace until we see him again.

To view a live stream of the funeral service, please watch here:

To celebrate Martin’s life with family and friends in New York, there will be an additional memorial service held at 10:30AM on Friday, April 19, 2024 at St. Mary’s Winfield Church, 70-31 48th Ave, Woodside, NY 11377 (718-672-4848) Live Stream: https://stmarysofwinfield.com Or YouTube .

The burial will be held immediately following the memorial service on Friday, April 19, 2024, at St. John’s Cemetery, 80-01 Metropolitan Ave, Queens, NY 11379 (718-894-4888)(Section 36 range G plot 20).