Betty Crook Samples, 96, of Statesboro formally of Tifton passed away peacefully Thursday, September 20, 2024 at Willow Pond Assisted Living in Statesboro.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at Albritton Funeral Directors on September 23, 2024 at 3:00 pm with the Rev. William J. (Bill) Harrell officiating. The family will receive friends from 2: 00 to 2:45 pm prior to the funeral. Burial will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens.
Grandsons and Grandsons in law will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.
Mrs. Samples was born on March 5, 1928 on a farm in Carroll County Georgia to the late Albert L. and Maude Ivey Crook. She married Lawton E. Samples and they were married for sixty-four years until his passing in 2012.
For the majority of their married life, they resided in Tifton where they raised their four children. She was a devoted member of Northside Baptist Church of Tifton for over fifty years where she taught countless Sunday School and Bible Study classes. This teaching ability led her to Second Baptist Church in 1964 where she was asked to start the first church-based kindergarten in the county. Little did Mrs. Betty know that this would lead her to her career of teaching kindergarten for the remainder of her working life. She was instrumental in starting programs at Calvary Baptist, First Baptist and the Christian Development Institute. At some point in her career, the Ministerial Association of Tift County approached her to teach Bible in the Tift County Public School System and she gladly took on the position for several years. Mrs. Samples was an active member of the Women’s Missionary Union; she served others on many mission trips locally and abroad. She also served on the Board of Brother Charlie’s Rescue Mission and worked to help start and set up the programs. She supported her husband, Lawton, within the Gideon ministry for many years. They were also active participants with the Billy Graham Ministries. Her love of the Lord was evident in all of her work. She was a wonderful mother and devoted friend to many. Her cheerful countenance was a gift to her family and her service a gift to her community.
Mrs. Samples was preceded in death by her brothers Hugh L. Crook, Weyman Crook and Max Crook and sisters Mildred Williamson, Kate Lee, and Helen Crook all of Carrollton, Georgia, and two sons-in-law John Williams and Tim Marks.
She is survived by her four children Jane Samples Williams of Bishop, Georgia, Jo Samples Marks of Statesboro, Georgia, Mark Samples of Statesboro, Georgia and Paul (Sandy) Samples of Murrayville, Georgia. She is also survived by ten grandchildren Taylor (Lori) Williams, Garrett (Megan) Williams, Katie Marks Jonathan) Vines, Smith (Kristin) Marks, Anna Samples (Jon)Palmer, Andrew (Taylor)Samples, Rachel Samples (Tyler) Sandifer, Ivey Samples (Austin) Peters, Tanner (Hannah)Samples, and Grayton Samples. She was also blessed with fourteen great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the Willow Pond Community, Hospice, Abide and all of her caregivers especially Shirley Williams and Tiffany Walthall-Thorton for the great care she received. In lieu of flowers the family would request donations be made to Brother Charlie’s Rescue Mission, PO Box 7712, Tifton, Ga. 31793.
Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
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