Sam E. Witherspoon

Sam E. Witherspoon, 93, of 1016 Taborn Road, Carrier Mills, IL died Tuesday March 7, 2017 at 1:35 pm at Harrisburg Medical Center. Graveside services will be held Friday March 10, 2017 at 11 am at the Lakeview Cemetery in Carrier Mills, IL. There will be no visitation all family and friends should go directly to the cemetery. Military rites will be held by the Carrier Mills and Harrisburg American Legions and the Army National Guard Ritual Team. Felty Funeral Home in Carrier Mills, IL is in charge of arrangements. Sam Evans Witherspoon was a Buffalo Soldier born on December 30, 1923 in Starkville, Mississippi. It was the values and experiences of this elite band of defenders that further shaped his Christian beliefs into the man many in his Southern Illinois community came to love and respect. Sam was born to loving parents, the late Samuel Harrison Witherspoon and Ella (Cubye)Witherspoon. He was married to the love of his life, Lina Janet Cole who preceded him in death by only a few weeks on January 10th. They were married for 71 of his 93 years. He was a devoted father to their two children Charles Evans Witherspoon and Dr. Melodye Witherspoon Wehrung of Massachusetts. Sam was known for his friendly outgoing nature and was a friend to all. During his years in the military he traveled throughout North Africa, Italy, and France. He tells how his travels taught him that good people cannot be determined by external features; that you learn to gage your friends by the fruits of their hearts and deeds. Sam was a Christian man, who was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Carrier Mills, Illinois. Sam enjoyed working along side of his dear wife Lina in the lush gardens that surrounded their Lakeview community home. He grew crops of soybeans, corn, hay, and even sorghum and peanuts while coal mining, raising cows, and working in the auto industry. Sam loved to keep busy, but always found time to spend with his friends. He had a loyal following especially among those who appreciated his fiery hot and tasty barbecue sauce. Sam will be so very missed by dear friends and family, however we all take comfort that Sam and Lina are together. They are buried side by side in Lakeview Cemetery in Carrier Mills,Illinois. In addition to his children, son, Charles; daughter, Melodye both of Massachusetts; grandsons Dustan Witherspoon of Carrier Mills and Colin Wehrung of Boston, he continues to live in the hearts of his siblings: Oliver Briggs of Racine, Willie Clay and Hobart Witherspoon of Starkville, Northweston Witherspoon of Dallas; and sisters: Chesterine McCutcheon of St. Paul and Polly Howard of Denver, as well as the spouses of the siblings. Sam continues to live in the hearts of close nephews Myron Cole of Carrier Mills and Richard Cole of Racine and many loving nieces, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by ten brothers and sisters.