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Sable Rose Martin, pictured with her niece, Olivia Martin, was remembered as wonderful and sweet. She died in a car accident Wednesday on her way to school.
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Sable Rose Martin will be remembered by her family, classmates, friends and by the customers she helped as a waitress as a big-hearted, friendly, fun-loving, hardworking girl.
Her mother, Rose Albright, will remember her daughter's independent streak and how she adored her little niece and friends.
For her father, Charlie Martin, it's Sable's outgoing nature that will forever make him smile.
"There were always kids going in and out of our house. Now, there's a hole in my heart for my darling girl," said Martin of Saline Township, who woke his daughter the morning she was tragically killed instantly in a head-on collision on Michigan Avenue Feb. 6.
Last Wednesday, the 18-year old Saline Alternative High senior was on her way to school when her Chevrolet Lumina collided with a SUV driven by a pregnant 24-year-old Clinton woman. Reports cited icy road conditions and Michigan State Police continue their investigation. There were no passengers in either car and the other driver is reportedly recovering with minor injuries.
Sable moved back to Saline four years ago from Briton, where she had been living with her mother, a Saline schools para-educator.
"Saline was home for her," her mother said.
Sable was just months away from graduation and attended Saline's Alternative High School for the last 2 1/2 years.
"She was more determined than ever this year and only had a few more credits to complete," said Christine Marsh, one of the teen's teachers. "She started the year with the attitude, 'I can do it!' and we all had no doubt she could."
Her 47 classmates received the news just hours after the accident.
"We're like a family here at Alternative and all had a close relationship with Sable," Marsh said.
Saline High School Principal Ben Williams and the school's crisis team met the afternoon of Feb. 6 to discuss how they could best help district students and families.
An automated message went out to Saline High School families that evening informing them of the tragedy.
"We felt it would be better for students to receive the information while they are in a safe, family environment, opting not to make the announcement during school hours before excusing the students out onto slippery roads," said counselor Michelle Monahan, who, along with high school staff, was on high alert during the following school days to help students cope.
"Everyone here is aching," said Marsh, who encouraged her English students to put pen to paper to express their emotions.
"She always made me think positive and helped me get through some rough times," wrote Michelle Byrd. "It seemed almost every time I saw her, she had a huge smile on her face. She loved life and just having fun. It broke my heart when I received the news about Sable."
"Stunning beauty. That's the only way to describe Sable Martin. I will always remember the great memories we shared together. Laughing about pretty much anything in every class we had together," wrote Brett Steiber.
"Sable was an amazing person who had a lot going for her. She always spoke her mind and she said what she wanted to say," said Sean Lyos.
At the luncheon following the well-attended funeral at St. Andrew Catholic Church Tuesday, Albright smiled, touching the display boards of photos of her daughter and chose one of Sable and her niece, Olivia Martin, to share. Olivia is the daughter of Jenny and Charlie Martin Jr.
"Sable spent her first pay check on gifts for Olivia, took us out to lunch and paid the bill," said Jenny Martin.
Sable had worked at various diners in Saline, most recently waiting tables at the International House of Pancakes in Ypsilanti.
"I had strangers calling me to say Sable had waited on them, how sweet she was and how sorry they were to hear the news," said her dad. "She really was a wonderful, wonderful girl."
One of Sable's last assignments was to write her thoughts on the ultimate school.
"My educational utopia is all art class and nap times, free smorgasbord ... and in art classes there is no assignments, you free-hand and do any artwork you want. The school is green and very jungle like, lots of animals and the temperature is very warm," she wrote.
Donations may be made to the family in care of Robison Bahnmiller Funeral Home, 301 E. Michigan Ave. Saline, MI 48176, and readers are invited to contribute to a blog at heritageweststaffblog.blogspot.com.
Staff Writer Sue G. Collins can be reached at 429-7380 or scollins@heritage.com.
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