William Cody Martin

Funeral services for William “Cody” Martin age 31 of Valley, Alabama, will be held at 2:00 PM Central Standard Time on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home 1500 Frederick Road, Opelika, Alabama, 36801.  Burial will follow in Garden Hills Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Central Standard Time, on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home.

Cody was born on August 1, 1994, in Opelika, Alabama, to Jan and Charles “Chuck” Martin, Jr.  He passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Smyrna, Georgia.  Cody is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Charles Shepherd Martin, Sr., his maternal grandparents, William and Mary Nellene Sanders, and his older brother, Charles Shepherd Martin, III, “Trey”.

Cody’s greatest love was his family, especially his parents, Chuck and Jan Martin, his niece Kelsee Martin and nephews Dalton and Channing Martin.  He loved helping others and greatly cherished his comrades and friends.  He took every opportunity to enjoy God’s creation outdoors with great faith in his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Hunting, fishing, hiking, exploring, boating, ATV riding with family and friends provided him with tremendous joy.  He will be truly missed by all who know him and have been blessed with his company.

He excelled in many youth sports including swimming with Opelika Swim Team and Auburn Aquatics, basketball, soccer, football, and baseball with Opelika Parks and Recreation.  Along with being in the Boy Scouts of America.  In Jr. High School and High School, he excelled on the Opelika Swim Team and the Opelika Soccer Team.

He was a 2012 graduate of Opelika High School and a 2019 graduate of Southern Union State Community College with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Technology.

He was accepted into the Future Soldier Program as a senior in high school.  This program provides high school seniors an opportunity to perform work and study with the military to attain military credit with delayed entry into the U.S. Army.  After graduating from high school, he attended basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.  During basic training he was recruited to be in “The Old Guard”.   After completing basic training in February 2013, his duty assignment was in the 4th Battalion, 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia from 2013 to 2016.   During his service in The Old Guard with Charlie Company, he performed funerals for military service members at Arlington National Cemetery.  As the Official Escort to the Presidents of the United States of America he performed many ceremonies with foreign dignitaries as guests to the President.  He was also a member of the Continental Color Guard and executed many ceremonies through the Washington DC metropolitan area.  He was honorably discharged in October 2020 with the rank of Specialist. 

Cody excelled in his position as Maintenance Technician at Smurfit Westrock in Valley, Alabama.

Cody is survived by his parents, Chuck and Jan Martin, Grandmother, Peggy Perkins Martin, niece Kelsee Martin, nephews Dalton and Channing Martin, Aunts and Uncles, Delana & David Swatts, Charlene and Robert Hallmark, Cindy and Stan Howard, Charlton and Joey Martin.  First Cousins, Chloe (Hayden) Hillyer, Camden (Jake) Wilson, Ashley (Ryan) Hooks, Charles (Lindsey) Hallmark, Joshua (Kate) Hallmark, Jamie Howard, Johnathan Martin-Dial, Jessica (Alex) Smith, Charlton (Taylor) Martin along with many other extended family members.  Cody loved getting together with all his family members during numerous gatherings throughout his lifetime.  We will all miss him during those special get togethers.