Mary Magdalena Ferrell Sampson was born in the Sandy Community of Coolidge, Texas to the late Lloyd and Izora Coleman Ferrell on March 12, 1930. Mary passed away peacefully with her children by her side January 24, 2021. She was the fourth of fourteen children.
Mary received her early education in the Coolidge Limestone School District. After high school, she enrolled in Paul Quinn College in Waco Texas. Mary was one of the first women to join the (WAC) Women's Army Corp in 1949 and was stationed at Ft. Lee, VA for basic training. After basic, she was transferred to Ft. Knox, Kentucky and Ft. Dix, New Jersey for Food Service Training. Mary was interested in seeing the World and transferred to Munich, Germany where she met and married her husband Joseph W. Sampson Jr. They honeymooned in Paris, France. To this union there are five children, Linda, Patricia, Joseph III, James and Debra.
Mary's husband, Joseph got Orders for Fort Ord, California so the family packed up and moved to California in 1963. There she worked as a Food Service Supervisor for 24 years at Silas B. Hayes Hospital. Mary was a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church under Pastor Benjamin Franklin and Pastor ML Carter.
Mary was active in several organizations and was also a member of the Retired Men's Social Club, Lifetime member of NAACP, The Citizen League for Progress and a member of the Women in Military Service of America Memorial.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Joseph W. Sampson Jr., mother and father, four sisters Andora Mitchell, Jaynell Evans, Lorretta Hatcher Talus and Ruby Sanders, four brothers LV (Sonny) Ferrell, Clarence Ferrell, Monroe Ferrell, Roy Earl Ferrell, and Great Granddaughter Destanee Deshay.
Mary is survived by her Children Linda Sampson, Dallas Tx, Trisha Moore (Ed) Glendale, Az, Joseph Sampson III Seaside, Ca, James Sampson, Sacramento Ca, and Debra Kaye Sampson, Dallas, Tx Siblings: Ann Williams, Samuel Ferrell, Joe Louis Ferrell, Benjamin Ferrell, and Willie Ferrell(Frieda) of Dallas, Tx. Grand Children Leatrice Sampson Dallas, Tx, Mary Dillard (Rodney) Silver Creek, Ga, DaJuan Henry, Sir Serges Castano Dallas, Tx, Tashawna Sampson, Jamie Sampson Compton, Ca, James Sampson Jr., Joseph Sampson IV. Great-Grand Children, Elissa, Juliette Roper (Corey) Rome, Ga Anthony Dillard (Chelsea) Rome, Ga, Justine Dillard, Jaleesa, Jamaal, Jaydin, Raquel, Jamari, Amir, Jayvon, Adonis, Jadel. Great-Great Grand Children Octaviun, McCoy, Jordan, Corey Jr., Carter, Aria and a host of Nieces and Nephews.
