Samuel Wayne Wheeler, 81, of Florence, Alabama, Honduras, Panama, and Guatemala was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016.
“Don Samuel,” as he was affectionately known in the mission field, succumbed to cancer.
Born in Griffin, Georgia in 1935, “Don Samuel” graduated from Mercer University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. At Mercer, Don Samuel met Annette Montgomery, the love of his life and his wife of 58 years. Together they departed for the mission field of Central America where they served for over 30 years in Honduras, Panama, and Guatemala. Samuel Wayne wore many hats on the mission field serving as seminary director, mentoring pastor, minister, and director of music. Samuel Wayne was an accomplished brass musician with a beautiful baritone voice. He loved choral music and was always a member of the church and community choirs, theatres, and orchestras. This passion of music is a legacy he has gifted to his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Annette; daughters, Liesa and Pamela; and son, Samuel; grandchildren, Nichole Thomas Ridge, Kelly Davis Bachus, Ryan, Josh, and Kristen Wheeler, and John and Steven Miles; great-granddaughter, Charlotte Bachus; and his brothers, Earl and Raymond Wheeler. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Charlotte Ann Wheeler Davis.
Samuel Wayne lived a rich, full life. He was loved by all who remember him for his compassion, wisdom, humor, fairness, and above all, love of the Lord. Samuel Wayne’s survivors are grateful for the caring services provided by Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
Samuel Wayne will be honored in a celebration of life service at First Baptist Church, Florence, Alabama. The family requests no flowers, but instead any donations be made to the Ovarian, Breast, and Prostate divisions of the American Cancer Society.
