Calvin Ray Sammons

Calvin Ray Sammons, of Bartlett, Tennessee passed away on August 28, 2024 and was 81 years old. He was born October 7, 1942 in Williamson, Mingo County, West Virginia and lived on Peter Street, in East End, until graduating from Williamson High School in 1960. He graduated from Berea College in 1964. He was preceded in death by his parents, Magdalene "Maggie" McCoy Sammons and Rufus Burgess "Bear" Sammons of Peter Street in Williamson, West Virginia.

While attending Berea College, he met his wife, Waukesha Lowe, from Vicco, Perry County, Kentucky. They were married in August of 1964. Their son, Kevin Harold Sammons was born in July of 1965 and resides in California.

Calvin was employed for 29 years with Aetna Life and Casualty in the Personal Lines Division. He served his company in Louisville, Little Rock, Sacramento and Hartford, retiring in 1995 with the title of Vice President.

While in Sacramento, Calvin became his company's social responsibility representative for Northern California. This gave him the opportunity to become involved in and exposed to civic and charitable activities. He was on the Northern California United Way Board of Directors, led and sponsored the first mobile planetarium for the Sacramento school system, and was an initial supporter and sponsor of what became MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). These experiences gave Calvin the desire to be a very active person in the needs of his community.

Throughout the rest of his life, he was dedicated to helping his neighborhood and those in need. His activities were many and varied. He was elected to be a Cub Scout Master, and was heavily involved in the Gadsden Craft Guild, and he served as a Gadsden Museum of Arts Volunteer.

His community passions were eyeglasses for the indigent and clean water issues. Calvin and another Lions Club member implemented a program in Shelby County, Tennessee, that put glasses on thousands of indigent individuals. While living in Glencoe, Alabama, he became a member of the Alabama Water Watch program, which is the world's largest water monitoring organization. This water testing activity, on the Coosa River, lead him to be involved in the development of a new organization called Renew the Coosa.

Renew the Coosa was a community group/activity to remove trash and clean up the Coosa River. This became a very successful program that eventually became a nationwide activity called Renew our Rivers. Calvin always declared that he was very proud and fortunate to be on the founding Board of Directors for Renew the Coosa.

Calvin was a dedicated member of Lions Club International and a firm believer in their creed, We Serve, and their charitable activities. He wore his Lions vest and lapel pins with great pride.

For his civic/charitable activities, Calvin was twice awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award. Once by President George W. Bush, then again by President Barack Obama.

Calvin Ray Sammons (1942 - 2024) was a descendant of: Moses Ball I and Ann Nancy Brashear Ball; Alden Williamson and Isabelle Thompson Williamson; James May and Elizabeth King May; Joseph Patrick Stanley and Virginia Jane Stanley; Montreville Stafford and Mary Ann Farley Stafford; Uriah McCoy and Elizabeth Rutherford McCoy; James Daniel and Elizabeth Jane Spencer Daniel; Joseph Hopkins and Mary C. Gunnell Hopkins; James Alfred Bradshaw and Anna Wooton Bradshaw; Silas Pennix Wooton and Phoebe Worth Wooton; James Skelton Bradshaw and Rebecca Ferguson Bradshaw; Bennett Wellman and Mary Mulligan Wellman; Rowland Salmons I and Frances Carter Salmons; Jacob Long Hunter Castle I and Sowege Gliding Swan Pekowi Shawnee Castle.