Annie Sampson

Obituary For Annie Sampson

ANNIE EVELYN SAMPSON November 18, 1947 to May 13, 2020

A Woman of Faith and Virtue

Reverend Evangelist Mother Annie Evelyn Sampson—a woman who devoted her life to family, serving others, and God—succumbed to pancreatic cancer at home in Georgia on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, her beloved family at her side. She was 72.

Much like her biblical heroes, Annie acquired superlative strength and wisdom when it came to inspiring others. Whether family, friends, or those who knew her as “the fireball preacher”, she could always be heard, encouraging others to “Tell the Lord Thank You!”

The second of six children, Annie Evelyn Bryant Jones was born on Nov. 18, 1947, in Quitman, GA, to Theodore Roosevelt Jones and Maggie Lee [Bryant] Jones. Due to Theodore’s military service, the family moved around a lot. Consequently, Annie’s maternal grandmother, the late Maggie Bryant Williams—affectionately known as Mama—helped raise her, which allowed Annie to continue most of her education in Georgia’s Brooks County School System.

When Annie met Arthur Lee Sampson, Jr., she recognized her soulmate, and they married in 1968. The couple had four children, Doris, Timothy, Aretha, and Stephanie, and moved to New Jersey to raise their family. As a young wife and mother, she began making money by cleaning homes for wealthy business owners. Her excellent culinary skills made her a sought-after cook.

A “Hezekiah Miracle”

Arthur and Annie Sampson In 1979, Annie was hired by the New Jersey Department of Human Services to work at The Vineland State School (later named The Vineland Development Center), a company that offered an array of services to the developmentally disabled. Shortly thereafter, diagnosed with terminal cancer and given no more than six weeks to live, she was forced to quit her job.

After crying out to God, Annie received what she called a “Hezekiah Miracle” (a Biblical reference to King Hezekiah’s being granted fifteen years of life). And, in 1983, she was able to return to the Vineland Development Center, where she worked until she retired in 2000.

Annie, who felt “different” from others growing up, always said that she felt like the black sheep of the family. However, in 1968—heavily influenced by her mother-in-law—she accepted the Lord Jesus into her life as her personal savior and began attending The Refuge Mission Fire Baptized Holiness Church in Rosenhayn, NJ.

As a missionary, she was often found ministering on the streets and praying for people throughout Cumberland County. Her obedience to Christ led to many souls coming to know the Lord, many of the sick were healed, and several of the blind received their sight. It was during these early years that she accepted her call into the ministry, became an ordained minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and earned the title “fireball preacher”.

Evangelist Sampson labored faithfully

Annie attending her brother’s retirement party. Evangelist Sampson labored faithfully in the vineyard for 52 years, serving in several ministries. Her overwhelming objective was to see souls saved and delivered. She even opened the doors of her home for prayer. People would come from near and far, looking for the “praying little lady in the red house.” She also attended The Servants’ Place Christian Ministries in GA and was a faithful member and Mother in the church until she went home to be with the Lord.

Along with helping to raise her four oldest grandsons, her granddaughters, and several nieces and nephews, Annie welcomed into her home anyone needing a place of refuge. A person who had never met a stranger, she was called “Mommy” by all who came to know her.

One family friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, recalled spending a night in the Sampson home, only to be awakened from a deep sleep in the morning by loud, repetitive shouts of “Tell the Lord, Thank You!” This was accompanied by the patter of little feet running up and down the hallway. In the deepest voices they could muster, Terrence, 4, and Sharrod, 3, would shout, “Thank You, Lord!”

Not only would the children have to follow this command, but everyone under the sound of Mommy’s voice had to “Tell The Lord, Thank You!”

Annie’s life testifies to her Christian calling

And we Thank you, Lord, for Mother Sampson. Annie’s life testifies to her Christian calling, beseeching others to pray and worship the Lord. “I can see her smiling and sweetly giggling as I share this story,” the family friend said.

Annie Evelyn with sisters JoAnn, Doris, and Thereisia. Reverend Annie Sampson is survived by her daughters, Doris Jones (GA), Aretha Sampson (FL), Stephanie Channell (David) (GA); two grandsons: Terrence Jones and Sharrod Jones, (both of NJ); four granddaughters, Lumelia Moss (NJ), Precious Greir (Ronnie), (GA), Jacole Smith (Stacy), (GA) and Alexandra Moses (FL); a granddaughter-in-law Nesha Jones (Joseph) and a special granddaughter Malissa Solomon (both of NJ); twenty-six great grandchildren, three sisters JoAnn Raiford, (GA), Thereisia Woods (Pastor James), (FL), and Doris Bell (Amos), (GA); two sisters-in-law, Sandra Horton Williams (Frankie), (GA), Rosemary Adams (Bruce), (NJ), a brother-in-law Richard Sampson (NJ), and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, God children and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur Sampson, Jr.; her parents, Theodore Roosevelt Jones and Maggie Lee Jones; son, Timothy Lamar Sampson; grandsons, Gary Lamar Jones and Joseph Jones; two brothers, Willie Mack Jones and Frankie Andrew Williams.

Reverend Sampson fought a good fight, she kept the faith herein and there is now laid up for her a crown of life.

The family would like to thank everyone for their kindness, expressions of love, prayers, and support during this time of bereavement.

A memorial service for Annie Evelyn Sampson will take place on Thursday, May 21st, with a viewing at 11:45 AM and the funeral at 12 noon, at North End Cemetery, 1507 North Reddick Road, Quitman, GA 31643.