Samuel Lee Chapman

Samuel Lee Chapman, He was born on September 11, 1932 in Greenville, NC to the late Ed Tony and Callie May Chapman. Although he was an only child, he was never lonely because he was born with a gift of love and friendship for everyone he met. He shared this extraordinary God-given gift throughout his entire life. After years of struggle with cancer, our Lord and Savior called him home on July 15, 2008.He attended his beloved Bethune-Cookman College in Miami, Florida where he majored in Business Administration. Afterwards, he achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army. He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War receiving many awards and honors. After 21 years of loyal, outstanding military service, Sam went on to become a manager in the Federal government at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health from which he took his second retirement in 1994. Not content with retirement, Sam decided to work as a customer service agent at the MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration) where he brightened everyone’s day with his warmth and humor. Throughout his decades of military, Federal and state service, Sam ceaselessly devoted countless hours chaperoning his children’s events and volunteering for numerous community and church activities.He married his childhood sweetheart, Ann L. Jones on July 16,1955. From this union they were blessed with four wonderful children: Joy Chapman Walk (Tom) of LaPlata, MD; Michael K. Chapman (Lora) of Gaithersburg, MD; Saundra M Chapman-Drew (Colin) of Washington, DC; and Ronda Chapman-Duer (Eric) of Portland, OR. There are seven grandchildren (Keith, Ronald, Ryan, Brandon, Kenny, Kyle, and Danielle), and eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law (Mary V. Lones of Greenville, NC and Lillie Taylor of Washington DC) ; one uncle, Zebedee Smith (Charlotte) of Washington, DC, and a host of relatives and friends. He was always adopting others into the family to include “Godsons” Roberto Hinds, and John Wayne Hayes; and “Brothers” Herbert Tyson, Alan Hankinson and Wesley Williams. His special prayer partner, Jr. Deacon Christopher McKoy was very special to him.He enjoyed serving the Lord and Worshiping in his beloved Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon for more than 30 years. He sang in several choirs including the Chancel Choir, the H.G. Brooks Chorus, the Male Chorus and the Mass Choir. He was a strong advocate for the Church’s Men’s Fellowship and enjoyed recruiting man to “ get on board”. When he was too sick to come to church, he continued his service with telephone calls to the sick and shut-in, counseling and praying with many who came to his “ fellowship room”. His door was always open for company. Even in sickness, he never complained and continued to encourage others. For Samuel Lee Chapman, it was a wonderful world.Favorite Scriptures: Psalms 1, Psalms 239, Is 41:10, and Hew 12Two of his favorite songs:"He looked beyond my faults" “ What a Wonderful World”

Tributes

Samuel Lee Chapman

September 11, 1932 - July 15, 2008