Heaven gained a faithful servant on April 26, 2021, when a devoted husband, precious father and loving papaw, Sam Whited, entered Heaven. Sam, age 73, was greeted in Heaven by his mother and father, Opal and Avis Whited Plaster, his two brothers, Tommy Whited and Harold Whited, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Don and Arbutus Richardson and his sister-in-law, Donna Richardson. We know that when Sam entered Heaven, he saw many faces that he had touched with his singing, his witness of the Lord and his testimony of what God had done in his life.
Sam was married to the love of his life, Becky, for fifty-six years and four months. Becky and Sam enjoyed and loved life together. Nothing made them happier than being with their family. Together they made a family legacy of four daughters and sons-in-law, Ginger Hale and husband, Tim of Rosedale, Virginia, Penny Farmer and husband, Greg of Lebanon, Virginia, Jessica Stevens and husband, Rick of Rosedale, Virginia and Jamie Campbell and husband, Robert, also of Rosedale, Virginia. These daughters gave them eight grandchildren, Matthew Hale, Adam Hale, Emilee Hale, Samantha Giordani and husband, Andrew, Brent Farmer and wife, Emily, Valeigh Stevens, Mitchell Campbell and Natalie Campbell; Sam also had four great-grandchildren, Madelyn and Scarlett Giordani and Selah and Reid Farmer. Sam has one sister, Linda Dye and husband, Roger of Indian Trail, North Carolina and sister-in-law, Sara Whited of Rosedale and three nephews, Billy Dye, Danny Dye and Stephen Whited.
Sam was a former member of the Gospelites Quartet, he served in the past as Minister of Music and as a Deacon. He was instrumental in the startup of several churches in our community. He was currently singing with Servant’s Heart Trio and many of you have heard Sam within the community, sharing his wonderful gift with others in their time of grief.
Sam retired after forty-three years of service for Nationwide Insurance Company, having won multiple awards and accomplishments. He always made his customers a top priority and enjoyed meeting and helping people every day.
Sam was such a blessing to many through his gift of singing and being a witness to others. The gift of music led him to work with the Russell County Fair Gospel Night and brought many talented artists to our area to sing of the goodness of God. Sam was a former board member of the Russell County Industrial Development Authority, he was a board member of the Whispering Pines Condo Association in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and a member of the Masonic Lodge and had served for many years with the Gideon International.
Sam was a loved man by so many and always said he was a blessed man on this earth.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all the staff of Bristol Regional Medical Center CCU, the ones that stood, cried and loved Sam and the family through his trying time.
A celebration of Sam’s life will be held at 1 PM on Thursday April 29, 2021 at Swords Creek Community Baptist Church, 3305 Kent's Ridge Road, Swords Creek, Virginia. Entombment will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens Mausoleum at Claypool Hill, Virginia.
Due to COVID restrictions mandated by the governor, a mask is required. For those unable or uncomfortable attending, the funeral service will be livestreamed on our Facebook page as well as our webpage.
Pallbearers will be Tim Hale, Greg Farmer, Robert Campbell, Rick Stevens, Matt Hale, Adam Hale, Brent Farmer, Andrew Giordani, Mitchell Campbell and Aaron Bostic.
Nationwide Agents will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Online condolences may be made at www.honakerfuneralhome.net