Southern Torch Managing Editor, Marla Jones with her dad, E.C. Samples.
Marla Jones, Managing Editor
(This is a Father’s Day tribute from Managing Editor, Mara Jones to her Dad, E.C. Samples)
SYLVANIA, Ala,-- Growing up, my father E.C. Samples had many sayings. The one he liked to use the most was “Get all that schoolhouse you can get.” That was normally said when I or my siblings wanted to stay out of school.
My Dad stressed the importance of education from an early age and worked hard to send his children to college. His main goal in life was to be sure that, my brother Daryl and my sister, Alethea, and I all excelled in school. I can not tell you the hours spent on multiplication tables and writing. I always thought that my Dad was a math genius because you could not stomp him in multiplication. Countless times, I would say what is 6x9 then turn around and say what is 9x6. He would instantly answer and never get the answer wrong. In my eyes, he was the smartest man in the world.
My father was born in 1926. He was the seventh son of eleven children. Just short of his sixteenth birthday, he convinced his mother to let him leave school, and sign for him to join the military. Like so many young men in the area, he listed he was older so he could serve his country. His mother would only agree for him to enlist in the Navy, as he had two older brothers already serving in the Army. He served aboard the LST 1106 and the Missouri. His service was in the Pacific Ocean Theatre where he was awarded the Bronze Star.
After returning home from the war in 1947, he married the love of his life, Annie Lee Brown. They were married for 64 years, until her death in 2011. They had three children, five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
My dad was very active in the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, and Eastern Star. In 2018, he received his 50-year Masonic Pin. Of all his awards, one thing was missing, his high school diploma.
I spoke with then DeKalb County Superintendent of Education, Dr. Jason Barnett about my dad. I told him the story of my dad leaving school to serve his country. Through a program for wartime veterans, my dad was eligible to receive his high school diploma.
My siblings and I, along with 2 of his grandchildren and one great-grandchild attended Sylvania High School. It was decided that was where my Dad would be recognized as a 2021 graduate.
On my father's 95th Birthday, he received his most wanted treasure, his high school diploma presented to him by then DeKalb County Superintendent of Education, Dr. Jason Barnett, and DeKalb County Board of Education members.
I have been blessed with one of the most loving fathers around and on this Father’s Day Weekend, I would like to wish him and all the Dads around, the best day ever!
If your Dad is no longer with us, I pray that you look back on all the sweet memories and smile. Dads are truly a blessing!
