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.