Janie (Wray) Samuel

 "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."         II Corinthians 5:6-8

Sunrise…Janie was born to the late James and Essie Lou (Moon) Wray on January 17, 1939. She was the second of eight children.

A Life Well Spent…

Janie grew up in Cleveland County, NC where she attended Douglas High School in Lawndale, graduating in the top 10 percent of her class.  Janie was always very studious and extremely interested in education. After graduating high school, she moved to Philadelphia, PA to seek employment.  After moving to Philadelphia, Janie worked for several employers. Her main employment was as a cashier at Sears Roebuck. While residing  in Philadelphia, Janie met her first husband, James Myers, and from this   union two sons, Marcus and Darren, were born. After being a resident of  Philadelphia, Janie and her family relocated to Fort Worth and Houston, TX before eventually returning to Shelby, NC in 1976. After returning home, Janie decided to continue her education at Cleveland Community College where she received an associate’s degree in Advanced Office Technology.  Janie went on to live in other cities such as Durham, NC         and Rochester, NY and worked for IBM, EPA and Kodak. While living in Durham, Janie met and married her second husband, Arnold Samuel.  In 2004, and after his death, she relocated back to Shelby to help care for her aging mother.

Her Service…

Janie joined First Baptist Church Lawndale after returning to North  Carolina.  Here, she served on several organizations including Senior Choir, Sunday School student, and Usher board.  She also attended Bible study regularly until her health began to decline.  

Hobbies and Interests…

Her pastime included watching old black and white movies, baking       awesomely delicious pound cakes for family and friends, going to estate and yard sales, and serving as a member of the Douglas High School  reunion committee. She also had a mild interest in photography as well as collecting old and current family photos.

In Memory…

In addition to her grandparents and parents, Janie was preceded in death by her former husband Mr. Arnold Samuel, and a sister, Lillian Corprew.

Those Who Remain…

Her memory will be cherished by her two sons, U.S. Army Major Marcus Myers (Marilyn) of Leavenworth, KS and Darren Myers (U.S. Air Force Major Rachel) of Tucson, AZ, eight grandchildren; Jeanetta of Augusta, GA., Corey of Shelby, NC, Isaiah of Augusta, GA., Camille a student at N.C. A&T University, Marquia & Jacob Myers of Houston, TX, Miguel & Maleke Barksdale of Charlotte, NC, one great-grandson, Aiden  Barksdale of College Station, TX, one great-granddaughter, Jelani Myers of Augusta, GA, five sisters, Betty Frye of Philadelphia, PA, Patsy  Stephens (Charles) of Kings Mountain, NC, Marion Monroe and Linda Wray of Largo, MD; two brothers, Walter James Wray (Dorothy) and  Ronnie Carl Wray (Vicki) of Kingstown, NC; five nieces and nine nephews; four aunts; Mattie Williamson of Ft. Washington, MD, Pearl Moon and Novenia Odums of Kingstown, NC and Jean Moon of Washington, D.C. and a special niece,  Bernice Wray Whitaker of Durham, as well as a host of other cousins and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Janie (Wray) Samuel, please visit our floral store.