Alice Samples

Alice Samples, 76, of Dawsonville passed away Wednesday May 16, 2012 at Northside Forsyth Hospital following a sudden illness.

Born February 25, 1936 in Rome, Georgia, she has lived in Dawson County since 1955 having moved from Chamblee. A homemaker, Mrs. Samples derived great pleasure in her abilities with gardening, cooking, canning, sewing, quilting and crafts. She loved the Dawson County community and was instrumental in creating what is now called the Moonshine Festival. A devoted wife and mother, she helped organize the first athletic Booster Club and took pride in her ability to teach others how to prepare and can vegetables and other foods. Her work helped keep the Dawson County cannery open for many years. Alice possessed a strong civic call to duty and served the county as a census worker, operated the polls on election day and served as a substitute teacher. She was a member of McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church.

Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Ralph Samples, Dawsonville; children, Ray and Jammye Samples, Dawsonville, Mary Samples Clayton, Douglasville, Margaret and Larry Kollar, Dawsonville, Virginia and Stephen Shealy, Dawsonville; brothers and sisters in law, John and Sophie Long, Milledgeville, J. H. and Barbara Cooper, Rome; eleven grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a number of other relatives.

Funeral services will be held Saturday May 19, 2012 at 11 o'clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Sven Mossenger will officiate. Interment will follow in the McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday from 4 until 8 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the McKee's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2754 Elliott Family Parkway, Dawsonville, GA 30534.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.