Samuel Fudge Reese

Sam Reese, a Columbia native, passed away at age 85 on Monday, February 9, 2026 from respiratory failure after years of fighting lung disease.

Services to celebrate his life will be held Friday, February 13, 2026 at 2pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205. The family will greet friends in Player Hall following the service.

Born in Columbia, SC on October 22, 1940, Sam graduated from Dreher High in 1959. He enlisted in the South Carolina Air National Guard and his tenure included deployment to Spain.

Sam took over the family business, Reese’s Food Store, on 2710 Devine Street, after his parent’s retirement. He tirelessly served the community by providing exemplary customer service to families in the area for many years. Come rain or shine, he and his faithful team would make sure his Columbia neighbors were fed. The headline in a 1982 edition of The Columbia Record read: “Reese’s Food Store really delivers the goods” and those words really define Sam Reese. They also reported on his receiving the Businessman of the Month for February from the Greater Columbia Area Chamber of Commerce. The recognition focused on the service and friendliness the customers encountered at Reese’s Food Store. That service included home delivery --- “about 80 percent of our business,” he said then --- and included “actually taking the groceries into homes and putting them away for customers.”

After dutifully serving the community at the grocery store came to a close, Sam never lost his flair for serving others. He personified St. Francis of Assisi’s words: It’s in giving that we receive.

His greatest achievement was marrying the love of his life, the former Sandra Adams, who he forever --- all 64 years --- would call “my bride.” And the family that would include two children, seven granddaughters and four great-grandchildren would always be his pride and joy.

Sam was a member of Shandon United Methodist Church and the George Huggins Upper Room Sunday school class. He was active in leadership of the church's youth programs and the Boy Scouts program. Sam was a life member of Pacific Masonic Lodge.

He was known to often create stained-glass mementos for numerous friends and family. His original designs and colors created personalized artwork that now lives in countless homes.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sandra Adams Reese; daughter Mary Ruth Starr (Chris) of Mt. Pleasant; son Daniel Adams Reese (Denise) of Irmo; granddaughters Caroline Edwards (Logan) of Mt. Pleasant, Katie Starr (Evan) of Asheville, Margaret Starr (Shane) of Chicago, Eliza Starr (Derek) of The Netherlands, Kendall Reese of Leesville, Hannah Reese of Irmo and Abby Reese of Charleston; and great-grandchildren Liam, Hayden, Blaire and Hugh Edwards.

In addition to his parents, Samuel Norwood and Mary Fudge Reese, he was predeceased by brother William Reese and sisters Janice Pooser and Elizabeth Wertz.

Memorials can be made to Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205.