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Samuel Townes
March 4, 1948 - December 7, 2017
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Reverend Samuel Townes, 69, of O’Fallon, Missouri, was born in 1948 in Steele, Missouri. Family and friends called him “Sammy” or “Sam”. He was the youngest son and second youngest child of Augustus Townes, Sr. and Robbie Lee Williams Townes. Growing up his family was poor and picked cotton to survive. Small in stature and strong-willed, Sam adored both his parents and was extremely close to his mother. But his relationship with his father became strained in his teenage years. In 1965, he went to live in Chicago with one of his older sisters to finish high school.
Deeply saddened by the murder of an uncle to whom he was particularly close, Sam dropped out of high school one month shy of graduation (he would later earn his GED) and joined the United States Army. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being severely wounded in Vietnam.
In 1970, Sam married his first wife, Carolyn Lavern Malone and together they raised a son. After being honorably discharged in 1971, Sam began an almost 20-year career with Brown Shoe Company, where he was an office manager and assistant plant manager. As a young man, he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggled with alcoholism.
But eventually he found his way back to God, overcame alcoholism, and joined Northern Missionary Baptist Church where he became a deacon.
After he and his first wife divorced, Sam married Patricia Louise Smith in 1994 and his family expanded to include four step-children. He and Patricia were happily married for 23 years. During this time, Sam began a second career as a postal clerk with the United States Postal Service where he was employed for over 20 years. He and Patricia were active together in church and devoutly religious. Sam continued his religious studies and was ordained a minister in 1997. He earned an Associate of Arts in Christian Theology, a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Counseling, and a Master of Theology from Glad Tidings Bible College. He eventually went on to become a reverend.
Sam passed away on December 7, 2017 in his home in O’Fallon, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and half-sister from his father’s first marriage (Grace Odessa Townes Oatis). Sam is survived by his wife (Patricia Louise Townes), his son from his first marriage (Malcolm Shabazz Townes), his step-children (Lawanda Powell, Sidney Powell III, Cantrese “Candy” Moore, and Ricardo Powell), his mother-in-law (Frieda Smith), his siblings (Pearl Townes Felder, Hazel
“Tutti” Townes Dalton, Augustus Townes, Jr., George W. Townes, Bobby L. Townes, and Jacqueline Townes McGee), as well as a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at Northern Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday, December 18, 2017. Interment followed in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with a military funeral honor ceremony including a 21 gun salute, the playing of Taps, and the folding and presenting of the United States flag. Immediately following the interment, a repass was held at Northern Missionary Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested that donations be made to the St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Hospital or the charity of one's choice.
Deeply saddened by the murder of an uncle to whom he was particularly close, Sam dropped out of high school one month shy of graduation (he would later earn his GED) and joined the United States Army. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being severely wounded in Vietnam.
In 1970, Sam married his first wife, Carolyn Lavern Malone and together they raised a son. After being honorably discharged in 1971, Sam began an almost 20-year career with Brown Shoe Company, where he was an office manager and assistant plant manager. As a young man, he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggled with alcoholism.
But eventually he found his way back to God, overcame alcoholism, and joined Northern Missionary Baptist Church where he became a deacon.
After he and his first wife divorced, Sam married Patricia Louise Smith in 1994 and his family expanded to include four step-children. He and Patricia were happily married for 23 years. During this time, Sam began a second career as a postal clerk with the United States Postal Service where he was employed for over 20 years. He and Patricia were active together in church and devoutly religious. Sam continued his religious studies and was ordained a minister in 1997. He earned an Associate of Arts in Christian Theology, a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Counseling, and a Master of Theology from Glad Tidings Bible College. He eventually went on to become a reverend.
Sam passed away on December 7, 2017 in his home in O’Fallon, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and half-sister from his father’s first marriage (Grace Odessa Townes Oatis). Sam is survived by his wife (Patricia Louise Townes), his son from his first marriage (Malcolm Shabazz Townes), his step-children (Lawanda Powell, Sidney Powell III, Cantrese “Candy” Moore, and Ricardo Powell), his mother-in-law (Frieda Smith), his siblings (Pearl Townes Felder, Hazel
“Tutti” Townes Dalton, Augustus Townes, Jr., George W. Townes, Bobby L. Townes, and Jacqueline Townes McGee), as well as a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at Northern Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday, December 18, 2017. Interment followed in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with a military funeral honor ceremony including a 21 gun salute, the playing of Taps, and the folding and presenting of the United States flag. Immediately following the interment, a repass was held at Northern Missionary Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested that donations be made to the St. Jude’s
Children’s Research Hospital or the charity of one's choice.
