Samuel Jeremiah Booker

Samuel Jeremiah Booker was born in Victoria, Texas on September 27, 1924. He passed away peacefully on June 2, 2022, in Dallas, Texas.  

Samuel, usually called Sammy, grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas and graduated from (K-12) Solomon Coles School. He proudly served as a sergeant in the US Army from 1944-1946 in India and Burma in the cavalry in World War II. After returning home, he worked and went to Del Mar Junior College for two years. He then married his soulmate, Cleopatra Lee Wilson, on May 14, 1949. Samuel expressed that he noticed Cleopatra sitting on a bench one day and decided “she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen”! To their union, Nina Yvonne and Rodney Jeremiah were born.

Samuel worked odd jobs until he was hired as a full-time janitor at Central Power and Light Company. As the years passed, with civil rights progressions, he was finally given a chance to advance in the company and became what was called a fireman, working on a control systems board at the power plant. After many years of dedicated service, he retired around 1986-1987.

Samuel and Cleo’s families belonged to the same church as they grew up all their lives - St. Paul United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi. Both families still have relatives there as the generations go on. He and Cleo served tirelessly at St. Paul until they moved to Dallas to be with their children because of their advanced ages. They continued to hold their membership and paid tithes and offerings at St. Paul the rest of their lives. Samuel was very active and was a member of the Finance Board, Trustee Board, and Usher Board. He was also a strong Sunday School member, Emmaus member, and member of United Methodist Men for many years until he moved to Dallas. Samuel was also a very proud, hardworking secretary of the Knights of Columbus.

Samuel loved people, family, playing dominoes, cooking BBQ on his giant barrel-type grill, and maintaining a perfect yard. He loved an attractive yard and house and worked hard to maintain them. He loved collecting pictures of the family,collecting funeral programs, and telling us stories about his family. He was very hardworking and loved to read the newspaper from front to back, which he was still doing until the end of his long life.

Samuel was preceded in death by his wife, Cleopatra Lee Wilson; parents, Allie Mack  Booker and Sadie Murray Booker; siblings - Leander Booker, Ernestine Powell, Ella Mae Booker, Bessie Lusk, and Clabion Booker. Those left to cherish precious memories include his children, Nina Y. Wilson-Blair (Charles, Bobby), Rodney J. Booker (Petrella, Effie); grandchildren -Kamren Nicole Lightsy (Spencer), Dana Lauren Wilson, David Booker Wilson, and Rori Elizabeth Coryatt (Sean); great-grandchildren - Samuel Adrian Lightsy, Nicolas Wilson Lightsy, Vivienne Simone Lightsy, Immanuel Joseph Coryatt, Isaac Jeremiah Coryatt, and Benjamin Jude Coryatt. There are numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends who will truly miss him as well.

Samuel was so proud to be a veteran and wore his veteran's hat all the time. But, as much, as expressed by an beloved friend of his from St. Paul UMC in Corpus Christi, "He loved God and St.Paul UMC”!

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