Samuel Kuykendall

Mr. Samuel "Papa" Kuykendall, 88, of Liberty Park passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2012, after a brief illness. He was born in Leland, Mississippi on January 28, 1924, and was one of six children born to William Mason Kuykendall and Irene Grantham Kuykendall. Sam attended Delta State University where he played football. During WWII Sam was a member of the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the Second Infantry Division. His unit landed at Omaha Beach and remained in combat through the end of the war, fighting in such battles as Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland Campaign and Czechoslovakia as the war in Europe came to an end. He left the Army as a Sergeant and was awarded two Bronze Stars for valor in action. Following his discharge, Sam returned to Mississippi where on August 8, 1947, he married the love of his life Dorothy Jane Roberts of Greenville, Mississippi. Jane was his bride for over sixty-two years until she passed away on December 20, 2009. In 1950, they moved to Bessemer, Alabama where he founded Kuykendall's K &W Furniture Company located on 3rd Avenue North. Sam, with Jane at his side, operated the business until 1986, at which time he retired. About fifteen years ago they moved from Bessemer to Liberty Park to be close to family. At the same time they maintained close ties to their friends and remained active in the Bessemer community. Sam was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Bessemer Rotary Club. He also served on the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church. Sam enjoyed Alabama football, a topic he discussed daily with other Bessemer merchants around the "men's coffee table" at the Bright Star Restaurant. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Gates (Day) of Mobile, AL, Margaret Sullivan (Tom) of Mountain Brook, AL and his grandchildren, Margaret Day Gates Baker (Jonathan) of Huntsville, AL, William Day Gates III (Andrea) of Mobile, AL, and Thomas Barrett Sullivan of Mountain Brook, AL, as well as three great granddaughters, Macy, Austill and Greer Baker. He is also survived by his sister Susie McElroy, Panama City, FL, and two dear nieces, Donna Gary (Tom) of Greenwood, MS, and Shirley Simmons (Harry) of Yazoo City, MS. In addition, he leaves many other nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to Mrs. Annie Johnson for her years of service and friendship to both Jane and Sam, and a special thanks to Mrs. Ida Brand for her companionship and care of Sam during his recent illness. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 29, from 10:30 - 11:30 am at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home on Hwy 150, with a graveside service at 12:30 pm, Cedar Hill Cemetery, Bessemer, AL. In lieu of flowers family requests memorial donations to your favorite charity.