Official Obituary of
Sammy Eldredge
June 30, 2013
Sammy Eldredge Obituary
Sammy Joe Eldredge was born in Dripping Springs, Texas on June 13, 1939 to Joseph Orville and Leona Gertrude Jones Eldredge. He entered into his final reward on Sunday, June 30, 2013. Sammy attended school in Denison, Texas and graduated from high school with the DHS class of 1957. He accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1956, and married the love of his life, Betty Ruth Crawford on his twentieth birthday, June 13, 1959. (Everyone always teased him, because his mother had to sign to OK the marriage license.)
Sammy and Betty joined Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist in Denison, on Mothers' Day, May 10, 1964, and he was baptized a few days later. On July 2, 1967, they answered God's call to the ministry and moved to Texas Baptist Institute in Henderson on June 2, 1968. He accepted the pastorate of Gum Springs Missionary Baptist Church in August of 1968 and began seminary that same month. Sammy graduated from TBI in May 1972.
That same summer, he accepted pastorate of Lee-Hi Missionary Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and remained there until May 1974. Mothers' Day 1974, Sammy accepted the pastorate of Timpson Missionary Baptist Church in Timpson, Texas, and he remained pastor of that church for 34 years until his resignation on July 5, 2008.
Anyone who knew Sammy Joe Eldredge knew how much he loved his Lord and Savior. Sammy served God faithfully as a husband, father and head of his family, and as a shepherd and pastor of each church he led. He spent thousands of hours on the road visiting hospitals, nursing homes, shut-ins, witnessing to the lost, carrying out the Great Commission of our Lord. He never complained although many times he felt as bad as the people he visited. He had a compassionate heart and a willing spirit.
Sammy is survived by his wife Betty, who stood faithfully by his side for 54 years, and daughters Cindy Rhodes and husband Bobby, and Sandy Jones and husband Carroll,. He also leaves behind five grandchildren who were the stars in his sky, Kimber Rhodes Jones and husband Joey and Jenny Rhodes Cassell and husband Solomon , and Scott Jones and wife Katie, Joseph Jones and wife Kathryn, and Samuel Jones. He also leaves seven great-grandchildren, Savannah and Madeline Cassell, Klaira and Kayleigh Jones, and Makayla, Sophie and Jaxxon Jones. Sammy is also survived by his brother Don Eldredge and wife Debbie, and sister-in-law Wanda Eldredge, all of Sherman, father-in-law Roy Crawford of Timpson, brother-in-law Roy Crawford, Jr., of Whitney, TX, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Louise and Richard Koiner of Clarksville, TX.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Eldredge, and his beloved mother-in-law Audrey Crawford.
Memorial donations may be made to Pine Springs Missionary Baptist Youth Encampment, 3386 FM 1798W, Laneville, TX 75667.
Sammy and Betty joined Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist in Denison, on Mothers' Day, May 10, 1964, and he was baptized a few days later. On July 2, 1967, they answered God's call to the ministry and moved to Texas Baptist Institute in Henderson on June 2, 1968. He accepted the pastorate of Gum Springs Missionary Baptist Church in August of 1968 and began seminary that same month. Sammy graduated from TBI in May 1972.
That same summer, he accepted pastorate of Lee-Hi Missionary Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and remained there until May 1974. Mothers' Day 1974, Sammy accepted the pastorate of Timpson Missionary Baptist Church in Timpson, Texas, and he remained pastor of that church for 34 years until his resignation on July 5, 2008.
Anyone who knew Sammy Joe Eldredge knew how much he loved his Lord and Savior. Sammy served God faithfully as a husband, father and head of his family, and as a shepherd and pastor of each church he led. He spent thousands of hours on the road visiting hospitals, nursing homes, shut-ins, witnessing to the lost, carrying out the Great Commission of our Lord. He never complained although many times he felt as bad as the people he visited. He had a compassionate heart and a willing spirit.
Sammy is survived by his wife Betty, who stood faithfully by his side for 54 years, and daughters Cindy Rhodes and husband Bobby, and Sandy Jones and husband Carroll,. He also leaves behind five grandchildren who were the stars in his sky, Kimber Rhodes Jones and husband Joey and Jenny Rhodes Cassell and husband Solomon , and Scott Jones and wife Katie, Joseph Jones and wife Kathryn, and Samuel Jones. He also leaves seven great-grandchildren, Savannah and Madeline Cassell, Klaira and Kayleigh Jones, and Makayla, Sophie and Jaxxon Jones. Sammy is also survived by his brother Don Eldredge and wife Debbie, and sister-in-law Wanda Eldredge, all of Sherman, father-in-law Roy Crawford of Timpson, brother-in-law Roy Crawford, Jr., of Whitney, TX, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Louise and Richard Koiner of Clarksville, TX.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jim Eldredge, and his beloved mother-in-law Audrey Crawford.
Memorial donations may be made to Pine Springs Missionary Baptist Youth Encampment, 3386 FM 1798W, Laneville, TX 75667.
Services
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