Sam Woodbury

Samuel Richard Woodbury (Sam), age 93, formerly of Dyersburg, TN, died in Ridgeland, MS on April 17, 2023.  He was a man who lived with such tremendous love in his heart and was never afraid to show it.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

During his lifetime, Sam took advantage of opportunities granted to him by his childhood community and encouraging mentors.  He started his work life picking cotton, and ended it as a successful business owner.  Sam was a pillar of his community and most importantly, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.  Born at home in Munford, TN on December 9, 1929 to parents Mattie Anderson Woodbury and James Harry Woodbury, Sr., his older siblings included Sara Mildred Woodbury Symes (Tom) and James Harry Woodbury, Jr. (Ruth).  Sam was proud of the fact that the Woodbury family called West Tennessee their home since the 1820’s.

Sam married Frances Cammiel George (Woodbury) on September 16, 1950 in Memphis, TN.  The ceremony was officiated by Dr. Robert G. Lee of Bellevue Baptist Church.  Sam and Cammiel met at the University of Tennessee Junior College at Martin, TN and continued their courtship when both matriculated at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

While growing up in Munford, Sam helped his parents through the remnants of the Great Depression and World War II by working a wide variety of jobs.  Sam’s first job was picking cotton in Tipton County where he tried to average 200 lbs. a day, a low amount according to Sam since most men and women picked 400 lbs. a day.  He was a soda jerk at Thompson’s Drugstore; a movie projectionist at the Munford Theater; a pin setter at the bowling alley; and a portrait photographer using a 5x7 Eastman Empire camera.  Graduating from Munford High School, where he was president of both his junior and senior classes, Sam ultimately got his degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1951 in the field of Industrial Management.

He started his professional career in Knoxville at Robert Shaw-Fulton and spent the next 15 years building his career at companies in Tennessee and Mississippi including American Bosch in Columbus, MS; Flexonics in Memphis, TN; and Emhart in Clarksdale, MS.  Sam and his family ultimately moved to Dyersburg, TN in 1968.  Sam was plant manager of Oldberg Manufacturing from 1968 – 1975 and then became the founder and owner of Tech 4, a tool and die manufacturing company in Halls, TN.  Sam continued to work in his retirement until age 80 as a manufacturing parts broker.

Because of Sam’s lifelong experiences, he raised his daughters to believe all work is honorable, to treat everyone with dignity and respect, and to live honestly.  Thanks to his wife and her amazing cooking, Sam was able to regale his daughters with childhood adventures around the family dinner table each night where authentic conversation and laughter ensued.  Not surprisingly, the stories got better and better with time.

Sam’s volunteer work included serving on the State of Tennessee Advisory Council for Vocational Education and as a board member for the Dyersburg Vocational Training Center.  In addition, Sam served as a board member for numerous organizations including the UT at Martin Alumni Council; The Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce; Farmers Bank; and the West TN Area Counsel of Boy Scouts of America.  Sam was also a Rotarian and Mason.  Sam was a member of the Dyersburg First United Methodist Church, but also worshipped at First Baptist Church of Dyersburg, TN with his wife Cammiel.  His faith was important to him and he often spoke fondly of sharing his beliefs with the youth group at First Methodist Church of Columbus, MS, where he and Cammiel attended as a young married couple.

Having been predeceased by his parents and siblings, Sam is survived by his wonderful wife Cammiel George Woodbury and their three daughters – Jacqueline Margaret Woodbury, Ph.D of Pascagoula, MS; George Ann Woodbury Johnson (Whit) of Jackson, MS; and Cammiel George Woodbury Hussey of Arlington, VA.  Sam is also survived by Karen Illingworth Emmott (Angus) of Australia, who became part of the family as an American Field Service student living with the Woodburys.  Grandchildren include Robert Moore of Gautier, MS, Samantha Moore Cicotello (Tom) of Washington, DC, Adam Moore (Erika) of Loranger, LA, Ann Boswell Johnson Carlson (Chris) of Ridgeland, MS, Collins Woodbury Pease (Nick) of Chicago, IL, Whit Johnson IV of Chicago, IL, Christopher Hussey (Emma) of Astoria, NY, and Cammie Hussey of Washington, DC.  Sam and Cammiel were also blessed with seven great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at Curry Funeral Home in Dyersburg, TN.  Service will be at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Hickman officiating.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg.  Pallbearers will be Robert Moore, Adam Moore, Samantha Cicotello, Ann Boswell Carlson, Chris Hussey, and Whit Johnson III.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or Men’s Bible Study Class, First Baptist Church of Dyersburg, TN.

Funeral services are under the direction of Curry Funeral Home.  We are privileged and honored to serve the Woodbury family. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.curryfuneral.com.