Obituary for Samuel Wesley "Sam" Maxwell
Samuel Wesley Maxwell, 90, of Marshall, NC, went to be with Jesus Wednesday, July 27, 2022,
at his residence. He was born May 5th, 1932, in the Oak Grove Community of Madison County.
Sam graduated from Red Oak School in 1950. After graduation, he served in the US Navy
aboard a destroyer, the USS Colahan from 1952-1955 during the Korean Conflict. Upon leaving
the Navy, he attended Long Beach Community College in California. Sam returned to North
Carolina in 1960 and went to work as a route salesman for Bunny Bread. He worked as a boiler
technician at BASF for 29 years until his retirement.
First, Sam Maxwell loved his wife and family deeply. He was proud of his daughters, Pam and
Sherri, his grandchildren, his two great grandchildren, and his church family at Long Branch
Missionary Baptist Church who were also especially important to him. Sam also enjoyed his
friends and looked forward to socializing with them at Stanley’s Citgo.
Sam was a well-rounded man with a variety of interests. He was an avid sports fan and loved to
support Madison High School athletics especially when his grandchildren were playing. He
was a huge Duke Blue Devil basketball fan. At home, Sam watched all sports from golf to kick-
boxing. He also loved music, especially Blue Grass Music and “Orange Blossom Special” was
his favorite. He also loved to travel and a beach location with fresh seafood was his favorite. He
was a ‘foodie’ and loved going out to eat all types of food.
Outdoor activities were particularly important to Sam. He loved to garden growing vegetables
and generously sharing them. At one time, he was a beekeeper. Sam was an avid bird watcher.
He loved to watch all types of birds at his feeders, but his favorite pastime was watching his
purple martin colony.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Toms Maxwell and Viola Capps Maxwell,
brothers, Cecil, CT and Kenneth and sisters, Faye Honeycutt, and Sylvia Maxwell.
Left to cherish his memory: his wife of 70 years, Betty Jo Reid Maxwell, his two daughters, Pam
Randolph (Ivan) of Abbeville, SC, Sherri Payne (Monty) of Marshall, NC, grandchildren Nathan
Henderson (Dana) of Greeneville, TN, Kristin Patton (Austin) of Fletcher, NC, Amber Payne of
Marshall, NC, a step-grandson Brandon Payne of Durham, NC and two great-grandchildren
Harper and Haven Patton. Sam is also survived by his brother Gerald (Earnestine) of Mars Hill,
NC, his sisters Barbara Ray, and Phyllis Stevens (Floyd) both of Weaverville, NC, and his nieces
and nephews.
The family will receive friends Monday, August 1, 2022, from 12:00-2:00, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service in Mars Hill. A celebration of Sam’s life will follow the visitation. Reverends Steve
Honeycutt and John Reid of Sylva will officiate. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Burial will
follow at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.
at his residence. He was born May 5th, 1932, in the Oak Grove Community of Madison County.
Sam graduated from Red Oak School in 1950. After graduation, he served in the US Navy
aboard a destroyer, the USS Colahan from 1952-1955 during the Korean Conflict. Upon leaving
the Navy, he attended Long Beach Community College in California. Sam returned to North
Carolina in 1960 and went to work as a route salesman for Bunny Bread. He worked as a boiler
technician at BASF for 29 years until his retirement.
First, Sam Maxwell loved his wife and family deeply. He was proud of his daughters, Pam and
Sherri, his grandchildren, his two great grandchildren, and his church family at Long Branch
Missionary Baptist Church who were also especially important to him. Sam also enjoyed his
friends and looked forward to socializing with them at Stanley’s Citgo.
Sam was a well-rounded man with a variety of interests. He was an avid sports fan and loved to
support Madison High School athletics especially when his grandchildren were playing. He
was a huge Duke Blue Devil basketball fan. At home, Sam watched all sports from golf to kick-
boxing. He also loved music, especially Blue Grass Music and “Orange Blossom Special” was
his favorite. He also loved to travel and a beach location with fresh seafood was his favorite. He
was a ‘foodie’ and loved going out to eat all types of food.
Outdoor activities were particularly important to Sam. He loved to garden growing vegetables
and generously sharing them. At one time, he was a beekeeper. Sam was an avid bird watcher.
He loved to watch all types of birds at his feeders, but his favorite pastime was watching his
purple martin colony.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Toms Maxwell and Viola Capps Maxwell,
brothers, Cecil, CT and Kenneth and sisters, Faye Honeycutt, and Sylvia Maxwell.
Left to cherish his memory: his wife of 70 years, Betty Jo Reid Maxwell, his two daughters, Pam
Randolph (Ivan) of Abbeville, SC, Sherri Payne (Monty) of Marshall, NC, grandchildren Nathan
Henderson (Dana) of Greeneville, TN, Kristin Patton (Austin) of Fletcher, NC, Amber Payne of
Marshall, NC, a step-grandson Brandon Payne of Durham, NC and two great-grandchildren
Harper and Haven Patton. Sam is also survived by his brother Gerald (Earnestine) of Mars Hill,
NC, his sisters Barbara Ray, and Phyllis Stevens (Floyd) both of Weaverville, NC, and his nieces
and nephews.
The family will receive friends Monday, August 1, 2022, from 12:00-2:00, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service in Mars Hill. A celebration of Sam’s life will follow the visitation. Reverends Steve
Honeycutt and John Reid of Sylva will officiate. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Burial will
follow at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.