Ernest Sams

Asheville -Ernest Sams, 81, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, August 20, 2003 at Memorial Mission Hospital. He was a native of Madison County. Mr. Sams resided in Chicago, Illinois until his retirement and moved to Buncombe County in 1979. He was a member of Bingham Heights Baptist Church since 1985 and was a U.S. Army Veteran of W W II. Mr. Sams was a son of the late Chonis and Dessie Mae Rice Sams and was also preceded in death by his son, Tony Sams and brother, Emerson Sams. Surviving are his wife, Mildred Marie Ball Sams of the home; sons, Gary Sams of Chicago, Larry Sams of Weaverville, Ted Sams of Waynesville and Tommy Sams of Lewisville; daughters, Esta Lee Sams of Asheville and Patti Lucas of Melfa, Virginia; step-daughters, Janet Sue Switzer of Orlando, Florida, Teresa Lee Hall of Knoxville, Tennessee and Diane Lynn King of Leicester; sisters, Minnie Brown and Robena Metcalf both of Weaverville; brothers, Edward Sams of Rockville, Virginia and Ellis Sams of Haughton, Louisiana; several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 2 P.M. Friday in the Chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Pastor Jerry Myers officiating. Burial will be in Locust Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Military Graveside Rites conducted by Mars Hill V.F.W. Post # 5483 of which he was a Lifetime member. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.