Samuel B. Sawyer

SAMUEL B. SAWYER was born on March 1, 1918 to the union of George W. Sawyer and Maggie Brown in Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina. He was the sixth child of fifteen. His siblings are Young, James W., George W., Babe, Maggie Beatrice, Chester Arthur, Mary Lougenia, Nathaniel, Julio M. Sallie, Sally B., Celia, John B. and Martha.Sam grew up in a Christian home where bible study, family prayer and church attendance were strict requirements. Sam accepted Christ at an early age and became a life long member of Shady Grove A.M.E. Church. The annual summer and fall revivals were the highlights of his life. On the third Sunday in August he would be found at Shady Grove AME and the First Sunday in September he would be in revival at his wife’s church, Sweet Prospect A.M.E. Church. Because of his dedication to both family churches and his home state, his children would become a solid part of their parent’s southern roots.Sam’s father, George, provided the family with strong work ethics. As a young man, Sam worked for his older brother, James W., in the logging business in Fairfield County. During the 1950s, Sam and his wife Frances would open their own highly successful lunch room business, Frances’ Southern Cooking, in the 400 block of North Wolfe Street in East Baltimore. Many their customers were the “home boys” and workers from Maryland Dry Dock and Sparrows Point Ship Yard. Many years later Sam and his son, Chester, would run a successful corner grocery store.During World War II, Sam answered his country’s call to arms. He was inducted into the United States Navy and was honorably discharged January 26, 1946. Sam had followed his great-grandfather Luke Sawyer who was one of thirty-one slaves who had served in the Black Confederate Army from Fairfield County, South Carolina during the Civil War. Years later three of Sam’s sons would answer the country’s call. Robert served in Korea, James McKinley served in and received two Purple Hearts and Chester Arthur served in the U.S. Marines. Two of Sam’s brothers would also have outstanding military careers, Nathaniel served in the Philippines during WWII and John B. served in Korea. In 1961 he helped to establish the Sweet Prospect Baptist Church, Inc. under the leadership of his brother-in-law, the late Rev. Calvin C. English, of Baltimore Maryland. Sam was ordained a Deacon on December 19, 1965. In 1970 Sam became chairman of the Deacon Board, retiring as Deacon Emeritus in 2000. The Church prospered greatly under his spiritual leadership. God would change his perspective about women ministers and pastors when as he would say “these are my flowers.” His granddaughter, Rev. T.S. Yameny, would eventually become his pastor and the servant of the church he had served for forty-eight years. His eldest daughter Juanita Sawyer-Watkins became a licensed minister after graduating from the Maryland Baptist Seminary and College in 2007. His favorite gospel song was “I Am Standing On The Rock, On The Rock That Will Never Give Away.”Sam was fully engaged in the life of his church. In 1965, he joined the Gospel Chorus. In 1975, he joined the Union Missionary Organization of Greater Baltimore and was active in the Sweet Prospect Baptist Vocal Choir. In 2005, he helped to lead a massive transition of Sweet Prospect from 1013 North Durham Street to 901 East Eager Street because of the East Baltimore Renaissance and the Johns Hopkins Bio-Tech Projects. He was a pillar of strength to keep the church focused during a time where it was difficult for the church to grapple with the changing face of East Baltimore.Sam was educated in the church schools of Fairfield County. Inspired by his parents, Sam’s quest for education was a life long pursuit. Sam would often boast about the massive knowledge he had and would encourage his children and grandchildren take every opportunity to learn. “Learn at least one thing each day,” “It’s in the Book and I got the book,” he would say. So Sam earned eighteen high school diplomas, three Associated of Art degree, seven Bachelors degree, twelve Masters degrees and was currently working on three Doctorates. Not bad for the great-grandson of former slaves.Sam met and married his childhood sweetheart, Frances English (deceased) in 1938, and from this union eight children were born-Samuel, Jr., James McKinley, Sr., Juanita Sawyer-Watkins, Chester Arthur, Sr (deceased), Addie C. “Penny” Sawyer-Ruffin, Maggie Lee Sawyer-Duncan, George Melvin and Arlette S. Sawyer-Holley. Sam’s greatest accomplishment was the safe and loving home he provided for his wife and children.Sam would marry for the second time on September 7, 2001, to the former Lousandra Lee of Baltimore, Md.Celebrating the legacy of Samuel Brown Sawyer are: sons, Samuel Robert, James M. and George M.; daughters, Juanita, Penny, Maggie Lee and Arlette; sons-in-law, Thomas Watkins II, Howard Ruffin and Bobby Holley; daughters-in-law, Vivian Lampkins-Sawyer, Sharon Blackiston-Sawyer and Shirley Brown; grandchildren, Kevin, Kelvin M., Anthony, Tiffany, Tyleach, Rev. T.S. Yameny, Stepheca, Tunji, Chester, Jr., Dasher, Toby, Barry, Kendra, Wynita, Melva, April, Renee, Raisa, James, Robert II, Jordan and Monyair; great-grandchildren, Kinera, Ianya, Kiersten, shabazz, Anthony, Antwon, Kawami and Anthonio; great-great-grandchildren, Dylan, Megan, Angela Theresa, Shanyne, Zachary and Johnathan Aaron; brothers, George W. and John B.; sisters, Maggie Green, Mary Jones, Julia English, Sallie Green, Celia Jackson and Martha Woodard; devoted nephew, Wallace Davis; nieces, Roxanne Brown, Elizabeth Davis and Debra Jackson-Johnson; devoted cousins, Henriette Stewart, Sarah English-Young, Sadie Glover, Bernice Glover, Mary Brown, John Brice, Horace Davis, Martin Hughes, William Davis and Moses Brown; wife, Lousandra Lee-Sawyer; two stepsons and a host of other cousins, relatives and friends too numerous to name.

Tributes

Samuel B. Sawyer

March 1, 1918 - April 9, 2009