Reverend Eliseo "Sam" Samaniego, age 79 of Knoxville, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 27, 2020 after a brief illness. Sam was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico on August 27, 1941 to Lorenzo and Lucy Samaniego.
Sam grew up in San Diego, California where he attended school. After graduation, he joined the Army where he served in Vietnam. After the service, he visited an Army buddy who lived in East Tennessee and fell in love with the area and made it his home. Sam was retired from The University of Tennessee where he worked as an ITT computer technician.
Sam was a member of Son Light Baptist Church in the Halls community of Knoxville where he served as a teacher, preacher and in the music ministry by playing multiple musical instruments and singing. He also served in the WayMakers and Macedonians evangelistic gospel singing groups.
Sam is preceded in death by his parents and several siblings as well as his stepson, Prentis Hatmaker.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Sanders Samaniego; his stepson, Terry Sanders (Tammy); his stepdaughter, Debbie Lester; a devoted son-in-law, Dennis Lester. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Son Light Baptist Church located at 6494 Son Light Way in Knoxville, Tennessee 37918. A funeral service will be held at 7:00 pm at the church following the visitation with Reverends Eddie Myers and Jody Darden officiating.
The graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Sherwood Memorial Gardens located at 3176 Alcoa Highway in Alcoa, Tennessee 37701 with military honors. The graveside service on Thursday will be livestreamed on the Facebook page of Sherwood Chapel & Memorial Gardens.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Son Light Baptist Church at 6494 Son Light Way in Knoxville, Tennessee 37918.
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