- Born on: July 3, 1961
- Departed on: December 16, 2018
- Resided in: Garwin, IA
Artrice Martin-El
Shakir Umar was born Artrice Martin, the eldest son, to Reverend Otris and Shirley Ann in Chicago, Illinois, and delivered by his grandmother Minerva Martin on July 3, 1961. Shakir’s father Reverend Otris Martin, mother Shirley Ann Martin (Davis) and sisters Debora Ann Simmons (Martin) and Tracy Lynn Walker-Green preceded him in transition.
As an adult, Shakir accepted his call to the Muslim faith and taught many of its principles with a passion. Shakir Umar EL made his peaceful transition on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 6:30PM. He was surrounded by prayer and his loved ones.
Shakir attended George Washington Carver Area High School where he played basketball with Terry Cummings for the Carver Challengers. He later moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa with his mother and siblings. He was in the US Navy and became an entrepreneur before he grew to love working with concrete. He took pride in his labor and worked construction on several large projects in the Iowa City area (Coral Ridge Mall, The PapaJon Pavilion, and the Field House). After several back surgeries, he put his business hat back on as owner of Green-Leaf Landscaping, Painting, and Construction Services.
Shakir had an extremely big heart and his life was filled with many talents. He played chess, was especially talented at portrait drawing, and loved sports. He even participated briefly in boxing and bodybuilding. Also known as a prankster, you could count on him to make you laugh out loud. Family was everything to him. He enjoyed cooking for gatherings and constantly reminding everyone about how very beautiful, and smart his daughters are!
Shakir leaves to cherish his memories his beautiful daughters Cecilia and Clair Martin-Yale (IA), his siblings Reverend Sarah Martin (Flossmoor, IL), Shirley Charrisse Cox (Martin) (Cedar Rapids, IA), Tyrone Martin-Bey (San Antonio, TX), and Lisa Shawnta Coleman (Marion, IA). His fiancé Michelle Jones and her son Austen DeSchamp, (Garwin, IA), his nephews and nieces that he so adored, Darrell Simmons (Atlanta, GA), Romell Simmons (Cedar Rapids, IA),
Toya ‘Tweepsy’ Garnes (Marietta, GA), Herbert Ellis Garnes, lll (Flossmoor, IL), Martin Isaac
Garnes (Alsip, IL), Zhane Grace Martin and Gregory Bernard Martin (Flossmoor, IL),
Shawn Cortel Cox (Brooklyn, NY), Raheim Martin (Cedar Rapids, IA), Tyrone Martin Jr. (Dallas,
TX), Paris (Sweet Pea) Martin (Cedar Rapids, IA), Hezekiah Martin and Demetrius Martin (North Liberty, IA), Stacey Lynn Walker (Cedar Rapids, IA), Cymone Cherrel Green (Cedar Rapids, IA), and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces, nephews, and friends.
We will forever remember Shakir’s huge, contagious smiles, and his big loving hugs that he so freely gave without hesitation.
My family,
I am free and I am spirit. I am watching from the spirit, I am one of your ancestors now. I am with all of our family that have transitioned to spirit. Do not be scared, do not worry, I know exactly where you are because there are pieces of me within each of you, burning in your heart. Even death can never tear us apart. I AM. The light of God surrounds us; we are the light. The love of God enfolds us; we are the love. The power of God protects us; we are the power. The presence of God watches over us; we are the presence. Wherever we are, God is; and so it is!
As an adult, Shakir accepted his call to the Muslim faith and taught many of its principles with a passion. Shakir Umar EL made his peaceful transition on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 6:30PM. He was surrounded by prayer and his loved ones.
Shakir attended George Washington Carver Area High School where he played basketball with Terry Cummings for the Carver Challengers. He later moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa with his mother and siblings. He was in the US Navy and became an entrepreneur before he grew to love working with concrete. He took pride in his labor and worked construction on several large projects in the Iowa City area (Coral Ridge Mall, The PapaJon Pavilion, and the Field House). After several back surgeries, he put his business hat back on as owner of Green-Leaf Landscaping, Painting, and Construction Services.
Shakir had an extremely big heart and his life was filled with many talents. He played chess, was especially talented at portrait drawing, and loved sports. He even participated briefly in boxing and bodybuilding. Also known as a prankster, you could count on him to make you laugh out loud. Family was everything to him. He enjoyed cooking for gatherings and constantly reminding everyone about how very beautiful, and smart his daughters are!
Shakir leaves to cherish his memories his beautiful daughters Cecilia and Clair Martin-Yale (IA), his siblings Reverend Sarah Martin (Flossmoor, IL), Shirley Charrisse Cox (Martin) (Cedar Rapids, IA), Tyrone Martin-Bey (San Antonio, TX), and Lisa Shawnta Coleman (Marion, IA). His fiancé Michelle Jones and her son Austen DeSchamp, (Garwin, IA), his nephews and nieces that he so adored, Darrell Simmons (Atlanta, GA), Romell Simmons (Cedar Rapids, IA),
Toya ‘Tweepsy’ Garnes (Marietta, GA), Herbert Ellis Garnes, lll (Flossmoor, IL), Martin Isaac
Garnes (Alsip, IL), Zhane Grace Martin and Gregory Bernard Martin (Flossmoor, IL),
Shawn Cortel Cox (Brooklyn, NY), Raheim Martin (Cedar Rapids, IA), Tyrone Martin Jr. (Dallas,
TX), Paris (Sweet Pea) Martin (Cedar Rapids, IA), Hezekiah Martin and Demetrius Martin (North Liberty, IA), Stacey Lynn Walker (Cedar Rapids, IA), Cymone Cherrel Green (Cedar Rapids, IA), and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces, nephews, and friends.
We will forever remember Shakir’s huge, contagious smiles, and his big loving hugs that he so freely gave without hesitation.
My family,
I am free and I am spirit. I am watching from the spirit, I am one of your ancestors now. I am with all of our family that have transitioned to spirit. Do not be scared, do not worry, I know exactly where you are because there are pieces of me within each of you, burning in your heart. Even death can never tear us apart. I AM. The light of God surrounds us; we are the light. The love of God enfolds us; we are the love. The power of God protects us; we are the power. The presence of God watches over us; we are the presence. Wherever we are, God is; and so it is!
