ST. MARY’S COUNTY, MD — When Laura and Rob Martin celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year, the milestone represented far more than five decades of marriage. It marked 50 years spent building a life together in St. Mary’s County; raising a family, mentoring young people, volunteering countless hours, and quietly making their community a better place.
The longtime St. Mary’s County couple, both graduates of Great Mills High School‘s Class of 1973, celebrated their golden anniversary May 22 surrounded by nearly 60 family members and friends at Noli’s in Leonardtown.
For the Martins, however, the celebration was less about looking back and more about reflecting on a lifetime of shared purpose.
From High School Classmates To Husband And Wife
Although Laura Markle Martin and Rob Martin knew each other in high school, their love story didn’t truly begin until several years after graduation.
The two shared the same homeroom during their senior year and even sat beside one another during commencement exercises in 1973. But at the time, their paths were different.
“In high school, we knew each other,” Laura recalled in an interview with The BayNet. “Rob kind of ran with the rough crowd and I didn’t.”
Everything changed in 1975 when both began attending what is now Life Community Church of God on Chancellor’s Run Road.
The pair volunteered together in the church’s bus ministry, picking up children from local neighborhoods and trailer parks for Sunday services.
They officially began dating in December.
Just five months later, in 1976, they were married.
Their wedding itself reflected the faith that would become the foundation of their marriage.
The church sanctuary was still under construction when they became engaged, so they postponed their wedding until the building was complete.
“I actually worked clearing the grounds of trees at that church,” Rob said. “I’d ride in on my Harley and grab a chainsaw and just started cutting down the trees… We were just waiting for the building to be built so we could get married.”
The Martins were married just two weeks after the church officially opened its doors.
A Life Built In St. Mary’s County
Although both were Navy children whose families eventually settled in Southern Maryland, the Martins have spent their entire married life in St. Mary’s County.
While St. Mary’s County has grown and changed over the past 50 years, the Martins’ love for the community has never wavered. Their first date was at the historic Belvedere Restaurant, and today they still enjoy visiting Point Lookout, fishing on the Patuxent River and attending longtime favorites like the St. Mary’s County Fair and the annual Oyster Festival.
For Laura and Rob, St. Mary’s County has never just been home — it’s where their love story began, where they raised their family and where they’ve spent a lifetime giving back.
Their daughter, Christina Martin Mix, also graduated from Great Mills High School before following her own calling to serve others. She and her husband now serve as house parents for children living in an orphanage in New Mexico.
The Martins believe that calling was shaped by what she witnessed growing up.
For more than a decade, Laura and Rob served as therapeutic foster parents, opening their home to more than 100 teenagers while Rob also worked in a boys group home.
“She grew up with that, watching us take care of other troubled children,” Rob said. “That is kind of what’s led her into her life as far as orphanages and helping kids that need help.”
A Legacy Of Service
Ask the Martins about their accomplishments, and they quickly laugh that their volunteer résumé “is an article” by itself.
They’re not exaggerating.
Over the past five decades, the couple has organized food drives, walkathons, holiday programs, scholarship fundraisers, neighborhood cleanups, youth activities, National Night Out celebrations, Winter Wonderland events, Community Family Fun Days and countless church outreach efforts. Together, they helped build events that brought thousands of local residents together while supporting families throughout Southern Maryland.
Rob recently retired after 25 years with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, dedicating his career to working with juvenile probation programs and helping young people find a better path. His service has been recognized through numerous state honors, and he is also a proud member of the Great Mills High School Hall of Fame.
Laura retired after careers with Constellation Energy at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, the federal government as a contract specialist supporting military programs at NAS Patuxent River, and as an adjunct faculty English and communications instructor at the College of Southern Maryland.
Between them, they’ve received recognition from governors, county commissioners, community organizations and civic groups — not for seeking attention, but for consistently showing up whenever their community needed them.
Faith Continues To Guide Their Mission
Retirement hasn’t slowed the Martins down.
Today, both remain active through Gideons International, distributing Bibles at community events including the St. Mary’s County Fair, the local cherry blossom festival, National Night Out and other local gatherings.
Last year alone, they helped distribute approximately 1,000 Bibles during Youth Day at the county fair.
They also volunteer through local churches, produce giveaways, Operation Christmas Child and numerous outreach programs serving families and the homeless across the county.
Their faith, they say, has been the cornerstone of both their marriage and their service.
“We are both Christians, and we put Jesus Christ as the main thing… the head of our lives,” Laura said.
The Secret To 50 Years
Asked what advice they would offer young couples, Rob’s answer came without hesitation.
Communication has been one of the cornerstones of the Martins’ 50-year marriage.
“You work with each other to work through your moments that are difficult,” Rob said. “You don’t just walk away from each other and don’t solve the problem.”
For Laura, faith has been the foundation that carried them through every season of life.
“There have been trials, mistakes and the hardships of life,” she said. “But Jesus Christ has been what has gotten us through.”
Looking Ahead
Even after 50 years together, the Martins continue looking for ways to serve others.
Whether mentoring young people, supporting military families, volunteering through church ministries or helping organize community events, they remain committed to the county they’ve proudly called home throughout their marriage.
For the Martins, celebrating 50 years isn’t simply about reaching a milestone.
It’s about a lifetime spent proving that the strongest marriages aren’t measured only by the years together — but by the lives they touch along the way.
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