Sammie Steedley Harper
July 21, 1930 – March 20, 2023
Funeral services for Sammie Steedley Harper, 92, of Cairo, GA, are at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church, Cairo, GA. Rev. Sam Vernon will officiate. Interment services will be at 3:00 p.m. in Pine Forest Cemetery, Homerville, GA. Mrs. Harper passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Pallbearers will be Bert Godwin, Tyler Williams, Luke Halverstadt and Clint Mathers, Cameron Walters and Mike Diamond.
Sammie was born on July 21, 1930, in Homerville, GA to the late Samuel Steedley and Lottie Kinlaw Steedley. She was her high school valedictorian and graduated from Valdosta State College in 1951, where she started out as a music major but switched to education after meeting the love of her life, Bertie Wilburn Harper, Jr., and wanting to devote her life to raising a family and to teaching. She was Senior Class Sweetheart at VSC, was Miss Valdosta 1951, and was one of five finalists in the Miss Georgia competition that year.
Sammie and Bertie married on June 15th, 1952. After moving to Cairo, she spent 20 years teaching school in in Grady County, where she was loved by students and faculty alike. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church and belonged to the Methodist Ladies Prayer Group there. She was also a member of the Magnolia Ladies Club.
Sammie’s optimism and bright spirit endured even in the face of several losses. She was a devoted mother to her children and a lifelong friend to many. She had an adventurous nature that carried her to summer jobs in Colorado and North Carolina after retiring from teaching, and on trips both within and outside the United States. She loved playing the piano, gardening, and playing bridge, and she learned to golf in order to share that pastime with Bertie. Her bright smile, wit and charm endeared her to many, and she will always be remembered for both her inner and outer beauty.
Survivors include: her children, Charlotte Godwin of Cairo, GA, Cheri Joiner (Herbert) of Cairo, GA, Cynthia Diamond (Mike) of Cairo, GA, Sam Harper of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Bert Godwin (Carrie) of Cairo, GA, Mariah Mathers (Clint) of Cairo, GA, Sarah Kilgore (Dustin) of Pelham, GA, Luke Halverstadt of New York, NY, Paige Halverstadt of New York, NY, Anna Diamond of Cairo, GA; great-grandchildren, Savannah Walters (Cameron) of Cairo, GA, Tyler Williams of Big Sky, MT, Laney Mathers of Cairo, GA, Harper Grant of Pelham, GA, Jaime Davis of Pelham, GA, Hansell Godwin of Cairo, GA; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband; her son, Bertie Wilburn “Bert” Harper, III; grandchild, Matthew Joiner; son-in-law, Keith Godwin; and a sister, Mary Love Hendry.
Memorials may be made in Mrs. Harper’s memory to: Roddenbery Memorial Library, 320 North Broad Street, Cairo, GA 39828; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
The family will receive friends in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
