Sam was born to Harden and Olivia Furlow on February 22, 1945 in Abbott, Texas, where he grew up working on a farm with his father and grandpa Calvin, after whom he was named. His only maternal uncle Samuel, his father's only brother and grandfather's 2nd son of 2 boys, he lived in Detroit. Sam attended Lincoln Elementary 1st-8th grades and was a good student, but it was at Dunbar High School where he came into his own as a Defensive end, #82, under the tutelage of coach "Big Jack" Robinson, for The Dunbar Dragons. I can almost hear the voice of the announcer, as he screams into the microphone, "interception by #82 Sam Furlow…Touchdown!! As the band and cheerleaders chant: I wanna be a Dragon...Don't wanna be a Panther!!
A devout Christian from a strict church-going family, Sam was in church all day every Sunday and Wednesday nights 7:00pm-10:00pm, prayer, bible study and choir rehearsal. He joined the U.S. Army during the Vietnamese Conflict after seeing more than one of his friends fall in combat. Sam felt strongly about serving his country and wanting to follow in his older brother's footsteps, Martin Luther, who was an Airman in the U.S. Air Force. Sam took to soldiering like a fish to water..he excelled, became a decorated war hero, performing acts of bravery And courage. He has 2 Bronze
Stars for bravery, a Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Rifle Marksman, meaning if he aimed at the target he was going to hit the target. Have you heard the one where a grenade is thrown in the midst of a platoon and the guy picks up the grenade and lobs it back..well that was Sam...He completed his 3 years and was discharged with Honors from U.S. Army at Fort Cavazos aka Fort Hood, Spec 4-E4.
Back into civilian life, Sam loved the finer things in life, clothes, shoes, cars, jewelry, and for Sam there was nothing finer than Gloria Nell Foster!!! Who he met,
romanced and married January 6,1967..A love affair that continues to this day.
Sam is preceded in death by both parents, six brothers and one sister, Martin Luther, Harden Jr., Larry Joe, John Wayne, Willie Mitchel, Oscar Jones, and Beulah Furlow.
He leaves to cherish his memory wife Gloria Nell, 1 daughter Sheila R. Garner Green, 2 grandchildren Dylan Green and Delanna Green, Denise Fair Leonard, Timothy Fair, Danisha Leonard, Joseph, Joshua, Titus, Thomas Leonard, one sister Debra Furlow Hazley, one brother Harold P. Furlow, and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
FAMILY
Gloria FurlowLoving and Devoted Wife
Sheila R. Garner GreenDaughter
Dylan GreenGrandchild
Delanna GreenGrandchild
Debra Furlow HazleySister
Harold P. FurlowBrother
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