Samuel Herschell Cawley of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2020 at the age of 98. Sam was born in Richmond County, Georgia on November 1, 1921 to Samuel and Lucile Cawley. He grew up in Augusta, Georgia and in 1940, he graduated from The Academy of Richmond County. He worked at the Augusta Arsenal where he met his future wife, Dorothy “Dot” Whitley. In 1943, he enlisted in the Navy and served in both World War II and the Korean War. Sam and Dot were married on October 3, 1944 and moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1956. Huntsville became their permanent home where they raised their two children. Until his retirement, Sam worked for the Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, where he supervised the spare parts provisioning for all Air Defense Missile Systems.
Both Sam and Dot were charter members of Lakewood Baptist Church and remained active in the church until their move in 1964 to Southeast Huntsville. They became members of Whitesburg Baptist Church where Sam served as an usher and Sunday school teacher. In retirement, he pursued woodworking, creating many home furniture treasures and building classroom furniture for the church’s school. He was also a member of the Apollo Lodge No. 921 F. & A. M. for over 70 years.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Samuel “Sonny” Herschell Cawley, Jr; and his precious wife of 75 years. He is survived by his brother Milton Cawley of Augusta, GA, his two children, David Wayne Cawley (Jennifer) of Temple Terrace, FL and Donna Cawley Kirby of Brentwood, TN; granddaughters, Marisa Massey (Corey) of Columbia, TN, and Leslie Johnson (Jody) of Nashville, TN; and great-grandchildren, Maclyn Massey and Tucker Massey of Columbia, TN, and many nephews and nieces.
The family would like to express their utmost gratitude for the excellent care provided by the Acts Community at Magnolia Trace/Willowbrook Court, and the many wonderful nurses, caregivers, and staff who give so much to their residents and families. The family also expresses their appreciation to Amedisys Hospice Care for their kindness, care, and support.
A private family service will be held at Valhalla Memory Gardens in the Chapel of Love Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Huntsville Botanical Garden, where God’s wonder and beauty abound, 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805, or to Whitesburg Christian Academy, where all God’s children are our future, 7290 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802.
