Name: Nancy Martin

Hometown: Born in Rome, Ga.; I currently live in the city of Decatur.

Job: Retired elementary and middle school teacher of science and English.

Why I enrolled at GPC: Started as a Primetime student in the fall of 2013 when I was encouraged by my voice teacher, GPC professor Dr. Brian Bonin, to enroll and continue my studies with him.

I’m passionate about: The arts. I think exposure to the arts enriches you and etches your soul with joy. From the time I was 10 years old and bought an LP album of operatic arias, I knew this would be an important part of my life. I began vocal studies at age 14 and was a voice major at Georgia State University. For years I’ve sung with various choral groups. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to stay actively involved as a performer and patron of the arts. 

Volunteer work: I particularly enjoy working with the Peach State Opera, an artist affiliate of Georgia Perimeter. Also: the Decatur Concerts on the Square, the Master Gardening Program in DeKalb and Woodlands Gardens.

Tell us more about the part you played in starting Decatur’s popular Concerts on the Square series: The inspiration came from Dr. Catherine Carter, a now-retired GPC professor and fellow Decaturite who began the city’s Fourth of July celebrations. She and I and a few other friends thought it would be a good idea to have regular concerts on the square with listeners sitting on the lawn. The first performers were musicians I knew. I wrote publicity articles for the newspaper, got the talent, and the concerts just grew. Now city employees manage the concert series.

Family: Jerry, husband of 44 years, and daughter Amy, who lives nearby with her family. I am a part-time caregiver for my grandsons, Andrew, 10, and Alexander, 8. Having them and their Jack Russell dogs in my life makes for a lively household with lots of fun and energy. 

Most interesting thing about me: I am a divergent thinker who thinks most anything can be created or accomplished if thought through.

Something most people don’t know about me: I performed as a cabaret performer in the early ’70s.