Maj. Samuel E. Thames

Maj Samuel E. Thames, USMC retired, 85, of Albany, GA, passed away August 6, 2017 at Dawson Health and Rehabilitation. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 6:00 pm at Mathews Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until the funeral hour. Interment will follow at Andersonville National Cemetery on Friday August 11, 2017 at 10:00 am, with military honors. Rev. Debbie cone will officiate. Born in Colfax, Louisiana, to the late Silas Edgar and Lillie Mae Thames, Sam joined the United States Marine Corps in 1955 serving in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After his retirement from the military, he went back to school to receive a Master’s degree in Education. Sam went on to spend fifteen years as a teacher in the Terrell County School System. He was a member of Avalon Methodist Church, Stonebridge Golf and Country Club and B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #713. Sam was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and the Georgia Bulldogs, his favorite hobbies were golf and reading. Mr. Thames was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Ann Thames and his son Ben Alan Thames. Survivors include two daughters, Kimberly Thames (Denis) Plette of Jacksonville, FL. and Pamela Thames (Ben) Baker of Locust Grove, GA, granddaughters, Heather Dawn Thames of St. Petersburg, FL, and Katie Snelson of Fort Lewis, WA, and step-granddaughter, Kayla Baker of TX. His adoptive family, Ted and Mary Stewart, Dot Owens and Charlie Hancock, Don and Melanie Hood, and Jeff and Lisa Hood all of Albany, GA, and adoptive grandchildren, Christy (Lee) Wilkerson, Tiffany Stewart, and Kristine (Gray) Jones all of Lee County, GA, Kelli Hood, Brandon Hood, and Dawson Owens all of Athens, GA, great-grandchildren, Anthony Dominy of Fort Lewis, WA and Allan Thames of St. Petersburg, FL, and adoptive great-grandchildren, Emily Wilkerson and Cooper Wilkerson of Lee County, GA, Connor (Reagan) Wilkerson of Tifton, GA and Levi Jones of Lee County, GA, and a daughter Paula Moser. In lieu of flowers those desiring may make memorials to The American Heart Association (donate.heart.org) or to The Wounded Warrior Project 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300 Jacksonville, FL 32256