Ms. Sarah K. Samuel

Sarah Katherine Williams Samuel was the youngest child born to Belle Qualls Thompson Williams and Allen Williams, a farmer, on May 5, 1928, in Maynard, Texas, now known as New Waverly, Texas. Mamma Belle was a schoolteacher and Papa Allen was a farmer. He and his brothers represented the interests of Black people to the landowners in that town. Sarah completed her early education in the Lower Grades in Maynard. Then she moved to Houston to live with her sister Annie Belle and cousins Hannah and Ida Williams. She graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School before entering Mary Allen Junior College in Crockett, Texas; one of Texas’ first colleges for Black Women to achieve higher education. She was a faithful leader of the Mary Allen Junior College Alumni Association, even after the school permanently closed in 1972. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Prairie View University. After receiving her Texas Teachers Certification, she began a long, elementary school teaching career in the North Forest Independent School District. After integration of Houston schools in the early 1970’s, she joined the Houston Independent School District where she taught at Alcott and Burrus Elementary Schools until retirement in 1987. After retirement she worked as a long-term Substitute Teacher. She belonged to the Texas State Teachers Association and was awarded the Teacher Dedicated to Education District IV in 1976. She was married to James Samuel who preceded her in death in 2008. They were not blessed to have children of their own, which afforded the time and attention to lavish on her students, nieces, and nephews. Sarah accepted Christ at an early age attending Methodist and Baptist Churches in Maynard. She always said they did not have anything else to do in the country except go to church. When she moved to Houston with her sisters and cousins, they all joined Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She joined First United Methodist Church Downtown on March 9, 1969, where she remained for 47 years and cherished her Fidelis Sunday School class which always concluded by having Sunday dinner at Cleburne Cafeteria. After attending services with the Johnson Family for many years at Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church she transferred her membership in April 2016. Due to illness, she began worshipping at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in the Fall of 2016, even though she remained a member in good standing at Lilly Grove MBC. She belonged to Sunday School Number 1 and the Reach Out and Touch Ministry until she was no longer able to participate. She loved to cook food for anybody as if she were serving an army battalion. Her sister, Annie Belle, said “Sarah will wash all the nutrients off the food before cooking.” She was generous to a fault. She cooked, loved to eat, and would share anything she had with others. Sarah loved to shop. In today’s time, she might be given titles of Social Influencer, Personal Shopper, or Stylist. We encouraged her to work in the stores she shopped, but she probably thought it might be like ‘putting the rooster in the hen house.” She loved music and dancing and always encouraged the Sisters to throw parties for family and friends for which they were famous for cooking good food. Sarah was the emotional and sometimes anxious one in the family, always letting others know when we had gotten on her nerves. She knew her place in the family and would always follow their lead, trusting her older siblings would do what was in the best interest for her and the family. On Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 96 years, Sarah K. went to her eternal home to be with the Lord and the rest of the family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Belle and Allen Williams; two brothers Jimmy Thompson and Aaron Williams; three sisters Lucille Johnson, Annie Belle Howard, and Lydia J. Scott; and cousin Minnie Catherine Williams who was raised with them. Sarah is survived by a nieces and nephews of the sisters: Reginald J. Howard and Annette M. Howard (Annie Belle); Annie Catherine Greenhouse, Joyce Jefferson, Allen Johnson, and Ervin Joe Johnson (Lucille Johnson); Barbara Scott Ephraim, Willie Scott, Jr., John Scott, Donald J. Scott, and Jimmy Scott (Lydia J. Scott); Eddie Mae Hightower and Frederick Thompson (Jimmy Thompson). She was loved by many next generation nieces and nephews, cousins, family members and friends.

Ms. Sarah K. Samuel

May 5, 1928 - June 13, 2024