Samuel Theodore Drye, Jr. was born in Concord, NC on June 20, 1943 and passed on after a prolonged illness on December 17, 2022, in Macon, GA. Sam was ever a man of faith. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, December 22, 2022 at Fall Line Church (formerly Harvest Cathedral) at 11:00 am with Pastor Steve Sawyer and Pastor Jordan Battani officiating. Burial will be private for family only.
Even through times of uncertainty, death, and disappointment, he was a true believer. He founded Holy Spirit Harvest Church (later Harvest Cathedral, now Fall Line Church) in Macon, one of the earliest interracial churches in the city, welcoming anyone with a desire to worship, regardless of color or any other traditionally divisive association. He was also known to many he mentored as Bishop Sam, through his other endeavor, Destiny Life Ministries, where he prided himself on both mentoring and instructing others in ministry. Perhaps most importantly, he was always a father to the fatherless. Barely knowing his father himself, for many years, he dropped the “Jr.” from his own name, refusing to succumb to the seeming family curses or drink and vice. However, once he saw the light at eighteen, he made a promise to be a father figure to those without, rather than remaining bitter. This was not least the case with his immediate family, who he taught not so much by instruction but through his actions: compassion, generosity, and unconditional love among his chief concerns. Not in opposition to his spiritual nature, Sam Drye also had a wicked and penetrating sense of humor, which often helped him win over even hesitant audiences.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; three brothers and one sister; wife, Rheba Ballard Drye; daughters, Julie Rosellen Drye and Jennifer McCallum. He leaves his son, Jeff Drye and his wife Brianne Yancy; as well as grandchildren, Julianna McCallum and Noel Yancy-Drye.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, ATTN: Processing Center, P O Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.
Please visit maconmp.com to express your sympathy or share memories with the family. Macon Memorial Park has charge of the arrangements.
