Clara Juanita Sams

Clara “Juanita” Sams, born January 19, 1927, to Clyde and Etta Whetsel, passed from this life to everlasting life on July 15, 2026. Juanita graduated from Fall Branch High School as Valedictorian, class of 1945; after which she attended Whitney School of Business. She spent her working career at Holliston Mills, J. C. Penney Co. catalog department, and ultimately retired from Tennessee Eastman Company, purchasing department.

She met her husband, James (Bud) Sams, at Holliston Mills, and they shared nearly 56 years of happy marriage together. To this union were born a son, Mark, and daughter, Carol. Mrs. Sams loved her family dearly and enjoyed cooking their favorites, as long as she was able. Her grandchildren looked forward to sleepovers as much as she did.

She leaves behind her son, Mark and wife, Terri; daughter, Carol Crawford and husband, Gale; grandchildren, Evan Crawford and wife, Leslie, Lauren Crawford Misciagna and husband, Joey, Katie Sams, and Shelley Sams Hall and husband, Josh; four great grandchildren, Harrison Crawford, Stella Misciagna, Sophie Misciagna and Carter Hall; nieces, Valerie Walters, Lorna Belt and Sonya Ewell; nephew, Dwayne Whetsel, of Huntsville, Alabama.

Juanita accepted Christ as her Savior at the age of 11. She was a member of Oak Glen Baptist Church but attended Oak Glen Union Church until it closed. In later years she attended Sullivan Baptist Church with Carol and Gale until declining health forced her to stop.

In earlier years, Juanita was a member of “The Friendly Five” quartet, church secretary, and pianist at Oak Glen Union Church for many years. She was also a member of the “Mom’s Horton Highway Neighborhood Watch Group” that kept an eye on the neighborhood kids that rode bikes up and down the highway in the 60’s and 70’s.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Etta Whetsel; husband, James “Bud” Sams; brothers, Rev. Earl Whetsel, Lt. Col. Homer Whetsel; sister, Linda Whetsel Hite.

The family is grateful for the Fall Branch community, friends and family who checked in on Juanita, brought meals, and stopped in for a visit. Also, thank you to Debbie and Shannon from Holston Rehabilitation and Care Center for the tender loving care they gave to Juanita during her stay.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Fall Branch. Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Jeff Strong officiating.

Burial will follow at Oak Glen Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Mark Sams, Katie Sams, Josh Hall, Gale Crawford, Evan Crawford, Harrison Crawford and Joey Misciagna.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Oak Glen Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Joy Lyons, 462 Oak Glen Circle, Fall Branch, TN 37656 or Fall Branch Fire Department, 106 Ruritan Rd., Fall Branch, TN 37656.