Sam Lawrence Cornelius

The angels sang and the heavens smiled upon the earth and blessed us with Sam Lawrence Cornelius on January 7, 1938. He was born to the proud parentage of the late George and Georgia Lewis Cornelius of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sam accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young man. After relocating to San Antonio, TX, he was an active member of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church under Reverend W. G. Gillespie and Wheatley Heights Baptist Church under Reverend Eddie Cunningham before moving to Dallas in 1983. He attended McKinley High School in the East Baton Rouge Parish District along with his siblings: Felton, Clarence, Catherine, Charlie, June, Dorothy, Etherlyne, Lionel and Ferdinand. Over the years, Sam was a true jack of all trades. Sam concluded his working career as a security guard for the Mesquite Independent School District until he retired in December of 2014. In November 1967, he married Barbara Jean Washington and to this union, two children were born. Along with three step-children who he raised as his own. San Antonio, TX was home until they relocated to Dallas, TX in 1983. Welcoming him into heaven are his parents, four brothers and two sisters. Those left to cherish his gentle, humble, loving and everlasting memories is his spouse Barbara J. Cornelius, his five children, Georgie Cornelius, Chris Cornelius and Chanelle, Patrick (Christie) and Terri Edwards. Three siblings, Catherine (Robert), June (Thelma) and Lionel (Betty). Along with seven grandchildren: Steven Antonio, Christopher, Peyden Michael, Andrew, Kelsey, Tylan and Tyunn as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, other loving family members and friends.