Clarendon residents revealed heavy hearts this week as many mourned the passing of a longtime public servant, community leader and leading businessman.
Hayes F. Samuels Jr., 74, husband of Yvonne James Samuels, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, at McLeod Health Clarendon in Manning. Born Oct. 23, 1943, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Hayes F. Samuels Sr. and LaNelle Jackson Samuels. He was owner and operator of Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning, and co-owner of Samuels and Richardson Funeral Home LLC of Lake City.
Fellow mortician Shayne Stephens, owner of Stephens Funeral Home, has known Samuels all his life. His father, the late Ranny Stephens, was not only one of Samuels' colleagues, he was a close friend, Stephens noted.
"Hayes and his family have been friends to our family for as long as I can remember," Stephens said. "He and my daddy had the unique camaraderie of being both funeral (home) directors/owners and coroners for Clarendon County. They had a very deep love and respect for one another that only comes from the experience of walking in (one another's) shoes."
When Samuels was first elected coroner in 2004 - after Ranny Stephens had served more than two decades - the elder Stephens said he couldn't think of a better choice for Clarendon voters.
"I believe the county has elected a good man for coroner," Ranny said in a file story. "We've known each other for more than 30 years. I've always known him to be a very caring and compassionate person who will do a good job for the people of Clarendon County."
Samuels was in his fourth consecutive term as coroner. Deputy Coroner Bucky Mock served with Samuels for his entire time in office.
"He always handled incidents where we had to deliver terrible news to people with a sense of dignity and compassion," said Mock. "He was a wonderful person. He was a great friend, boss and he will be missed by all who knew him."
Sheriff Tim Baxley had worked with Samuels on several cases since taking office in 2017. He said Samuels was the consummate professional.
"He was a very professional man who I enjoyed knowing and working with," said Baxley. "He did an outstanding job as coroner, and he will surely be missed. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with his family."
Clarendon County Administrator David Epperson had similar words of praise.
"Coroner Samuels represented the citizens of Clarendon County in a professional and compassionate manner," he said. "It was a pleasure working with him."
Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart also agreed.
"We in the County Council enjoyed working with coroner Samuels," he said. "He certainly did a great job for all the citizens. He was a man of great compassion, which you have to be to be in the profession which he had followed. We are really going to miss him."
Samuels was the second generation of his family to work in the funeral home business. He took over Samuels Funeral Home LLC from his father in the 1960s. The elder Hayes F. Samuels Sr. had founded the funeral home in the 1940s.
Sen. Kevin Johnson, in a post on social media, called Samuels a "Servant of God."
"The loss of the Honorable Hayes F. Samuels Jr. leaves a huge void throughout our community," Johnson wrote. "His compassion, humility, generosity and friendship will be missed. In his own words, 'It's (all right) to go home, Hayes, when your work is done.'"
When Manning Mayor Julia Nelson presented Samuels with the Key to the City in 2016, he said he always worked to make his community a better place for others because it would ultimately be a better place for him and his family. He was fiercely proud of his hometown of Manning and was quick to confront young people who complained about the small municipality.
“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 considered Manning residents his mentors and caretakers. He said the community helped raise him after the death of his father.
“My dad died when I was 9 years old, and I had a community that helped raise me,” Samuels 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.
Funeral services will be held no Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, at Historic Trinity AME Church, 41 W. Rigby St. in Manning.
Masonic rites with spring Hill Lodge No. 188 will be held 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, at Hayes F. Samuels Sr. Memorial Chapel, 114 N. Church St. in Manning.
"Hayes was a true professional in every sense of the word," said Shayne Stephens. "He brought great honor to and performed the duties of the Clarendon County Coroner's Office excellently. It is a sad day for me personally, having to say goodbye to this devoted, dynamic, hard-working, loyal friend and contemporary. He will be sorely missed by everyone who had the privilege of working with him and being considered (his) friend."
