Mary Aichel Samford

Mary Aichel Samford, age 97, was promoted Monday , October 21, 2024 into His presence after completing her blessed walk with the Lord on this earth. She has now joined her Lord Jesus and her loved ones gone before her in their heavenly home.

Mary was born in Atlanta,Ga, July 7, 1927, to Louis and Margaret Aichel and was the sister of Stephen P. Aichel and Louisa Aichel McIntosh Edwards. The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida , where the children went to school at Ortega Elementary, John Gorrie Jr. High and Robert E. Lee High, whence they graduated and all went back to Atlanta for college (Georgia Tech and Agnes Scott). During WWII the family moved to Coral Gables for a couple of years, where father Louis ( also a GA Tech engineer ) helped build the blimp base at Homestead, FL for the US military.

After graduating from Agnes Scott College with a major in Bible Mary returned to Jacksonville to teach Bible History at Robert E. Lee, Englewood, Wolfson , Landon and Forrest High Schools. She taught until she met and married her beloved “Chuck”(Charles. W. Samford, also a GA. Tech grad) on June 2, 1951 at Riverside Park Methodist Church in Jacksonville. They were married 60 yrs., when Chuck preceded her in being called home by the Lord on July 11, 2011. Chuck’s construction business took them to Albany, GA, where all 4 of their children were born (Margaret, Charles, Louis and Samuel). In 1964 they returned to Jacksonville where their children went to Ortega Elementary, Lake Shore Jr High , and on to Robert E. Lee. During this time Mary was thrilled to resume her calling to teach Bible History at four high schools (Wolfson, Englewood, Lee, and Forrest High Schools and at times was called the “circuit rider” teacher, as she traveled from school to school each day. She dearly loved the subject she taught and the challenging students she had. Many came to a deeper true faith in Christ from being in her classes.

In 1976, when most of their own kids were out of the nest, Mary and Chuck felt the Lord calling them to the mission field. Chuck returned to GA Tech for a Master’s Degree in Hydraulic Engineering (feeling a concern for the need of potable water for the villages of Africa, and Mary (age 49) went to Emory University for a BSN in nursing. Mary graduated at age 51 and worked a year at Emory Hospital , while Chuck finished his thesis at Ga Tech. Mary spent a summer doing nursing in Dacca, Bangladesh, with Dr.Codington. In 1979 they got a call from the Lord through P.C.USA to go to Malawi, Central Africa, of which they had never heard. This was another meaningful and challenging time in their lives, as they served nearly 10 yrs. in this beautiful country where they loved the Malawians and fellow missionary coworkers there for the rest of their lives. Mary and another nurse founded the first blood bank in the country. She served as a blood collection nurse for the Blantyre Hospital. They were given a van and they would go out to villages and tea plantations to collect blood from those they could convince to donate blood; giving incentives of Coke and cookies helped. Mary also hosted a ladies prayer group and Bible study called the “Upper Room”, and was a high school Bible teacher and general mission nurse. In other years they served briefly in Kenya, Mexico and China.

After retiring from missions work, they lived in Decatur, GA, and Mary did home health nursing with many AIDS patients, when AIDS had reached an epidemic stage. A few years later they moved to Sky Valley, GA, and then Jacksonville FL. Mary carried within her body a parasite from years before in Malawi which broke loose and had to be treated by the US Military infectious disease dept. Mary continued her love of Bible teaching both in Sky Valley, GA, and finally back to Jacksonville. She spent her last five years near her daughter Margaret Day in Greenville, SC.

Surviving her are her four children: Margaret Day (John), Charles (Donna), Louis, Samuel (Janet), 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews, including Stephanie Aichel Harjung, all whom loved Grammy Mary dearly.

Mary’s personal testimony in the Lord:

Mary came to know the Lord through loving parents who knew the Lord, who carried her to Sunday School and church (mostly at Riverside Park Methodist, Jacksonville, FL, where both parents served in various leadership capacities, including teaching in Sunday School. We had regular Bible readings in our home. We had excellent teaching from our Sunday School teachers and outstanding sermons from our preachers.

At an early age 5 or 6 when pledges were made to support the church, I pledged a dime from my own allowance and it was my own idea , not my parents! We had morning and evening services and we, as a family rarely missed one. Children could “ join” the church at age 12 but I begged to join at an earlier age (10 yrs , I think). I had been christened as a baby at First Methodist in Atlanta, where I was born. Joining the church in Jacksonville was a time of cognition of and my love for the church accepting the vows made for me at my baptism. My love for the church continued throughout my adolescence. In high school we had a Bible teacher, Mrs. Esther Hufford, who was an excellent instructor. I saw many students come to our class who never went to Sunday School or church and I saw the changes in their lives.

At that time I made up my mind that I would like to be prepared to do the same thing one day. I guess I felt a “missionary” spirit for that. Hence, I chose to major in Bible studies at Agnes Scott., which I did, graduating in 1949. I taught in Jacksonville till my husband Chuck and I moved away. Chuck was supportive of me in my “calling “. In Albany , GA, Chuck served as an itinerant traveling preacher for the Methodist churches nearby.

Upon moving back to Jacksonville as a family of 6, I resumed teaching Bible in the high schools, traveling from one to another. I was privileged to lead two tours to the Bible lands- an inspiration to us all. I chose to be baptized by immersion in the Sea of Galilee. Mary and Chuck traveled to all seven continents in their lifetime.

Finally “old age” caught up with me, so now I am a learner, not the teacher. Mary hopes all will find the same trust in the Lord and follow Him in life and join her in heaven one day.

To God be the Glory. Thou good and faithful servant, enter into His rest.

A Greenville Memorial service will be held at Rolling Green Village. 1 HokeSmith Blvd. Village Center entrance (not Village Commons entrance) Blue Ridge Room D at 1:30 pm Wednesday October 23, 2024

A Jacksonville Florida Memorial service will be Monday, October 28, 2024 11:00 AM , followed by reception in Fellowship Hall at St. John’s Presbyterian Church , 4275 Herschel St, Jacksonville, FL 32210. 3 PM Graveside at Riverside Memorial Park 7242 Normandy Blvd. Jacksonville, FL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan's Purse, 801 Bamboo Rd, Boone, NC 28607. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/