Dr. Max Dillon Gartman, 80, Florence, AL, passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Max, the youngest of 12 siblings, was born in Mobile, AL in 1938 to Noah Christopher and Edna Olga Gartman. He was married for 55 years to his beloved sweetheart, Marcia. The father of 3 children and grandfather to 8 grandchildren was lovingly known as Papa Max. A true Renaissance man … Max was a world-traveler, professor, missionary, intellect, debate champion, music minister, mentor, tennis player/coach, singer, writer and storyteller. Most importantly, Max was a faithful Christian used by God as a light of the Gospel to many all over the world. Max received his Bachelor of Arts in French and History from Samford University in Birmingham, AL in 1960. He received his Master’s Degree in French in 1962 and his PhD in Romance Languages in 1974 from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Max served as a foreign language professor for Samford University, University of North Alabama, Universite de Nice, Bryan College, and Chattanooga State Community College. He was also a championship tennis coach for the men’s varsity team at Samford University. As head of International Educational Travel, he took thousands of students to Europe over the course of his distinguished teaching career. Max served as the minister of music for the following churches in Alabama: Hopewell Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, Boyles Baptist Church, Raleigh Avenue Baptist Church, Woodmont Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Jasper, and Greenhill First Baptist Church. He also served at First Baptist Church of Dayton, Tennessee. The celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2018 at Woodmont Baptist Church in Florence, AL. Visitation will be held in the sanctuary from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. followed by the funeral service, officiated by Reverend Chad Hess, at 3:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, July 23 at 3:00 p.m. at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park Cemetery in Tuscaloosa, AL, led by Dr. Tom Cleveland. Max was preceded in death by his beloved son, Paul Dillon Gartman; by his sisters: Mattie Fundinger, Willie Marie Gilmore, Irene Bednekoff, Ezell Davis, Elizabeth Boulo; by his brothers: Lloyd, Hilton, James, and Noah. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Hubbard Gartman; daughter, Polly Gartman Machen; son, Noel Don Gartman; sister, Frances Gilliam; daughter-in-law, Amy Beth Gartman; son-in-law, Mike Machen; granddaughters, Payton Gartman Murphy, Anna Machen, Joy Machen, Destiny Gartman, and Chandler Gartman; grandsons, Clay Machen, Maxwell Gartman; granddaughter-in-law, Annsley Machen; grandson-in-law, Joshua Murphy; and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers include Mike Machen, Clay Machen, Maxwell Gartman, Joshua Murphy, Sammy Vreeland, Donnie McBrayer, Phillip Boulo, and David Bowling. Honorary pallbearers include Paul Edgar Gartman and Bill Inskeep. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to support BringingGoodNews.org, where 100% of every dollar given goes directly to serving the poor and spreading the gospel and/or a memorial donation to the Cardiac Research Foundation at crf.org.