Samuels presented Key to the City

Posted

Hayes Samuels has been in the funeral business since 1964. He has been Clarendon County Coroner for 11 years.

The owner and operator of Samuels Funeral Home LLC was honored May 16 by Manning City Council and Mayor Julia Nelson, who presented the longtime funeral director with the Key to the City of Manning.

"I grew up around the corner from Mr. Samuels and his family," said Nelson. "When you're growing up in a neighborhood with several challenges, it's always good to have people to look up to and aspire to be like. The Samuels have made many contributions to our community, publicly and privately, and some people don't even realize how many people they've helped."

Samuels, who came to office as coroner in 2005, said he was honored.

"I'm really elated this event to receive this distinguished award," he said. "I had no idea that I would gain such an honor."

Samuels said he's proud to be from a small town like Manning.

"There are many challenges in a small town, but like I always tell young people, it's not where you come from, it's where you want to go," he said. "You can do anything in this world you want to do if you put yourself to it and place God first."

Samuels said he thanks God each day for the community that helped raise him.

"My dad died when I was 9 years old, and I had a community that helped raise me," he said. "We have a wonderful community here in Manning. I'm happy to be a part of that."

He also thanked his wife, Yvonne James Samuels.

"There's no greater thing than to have a good wife," he said.