October 18, 2010

SUFFOLK — Sam Lorenzo Callis, 92, of the 3600 block of Sleepy Hole Road, passed away Monday, Oct. 18, 2010. He was born Sept. 6, 1918 in Vance County, N.C., to the late Samuel A. and Cora Meadows Callis. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Jessie Hoggard Callis; four brothers, Maynard, Alvin, Elton and Cecil Callis; and three sisters, Lorraine Hayes, Frances Eure and Alice Clark.

He was a resident and farmer in Suffolk for many years. Some of the residents in Suffolk remember the times he often stood before the City Council. If he disagreed with them, and often did, he would be the first one to say so. Sam was a member of the Suffolk Moose Lodge 141, the Ruritan Club and a life member of Woodman of the World.

He retired from Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1972 as a welder. He also worked for Atlantic Wood Industries and retired from the Department of Transportation as a bridge tender.

Sam is survived by four sons, Whitlow W. Callis and wife, Sue, of Willard, N.C., William H. Callis and wife, Brenda, of Chesapeake, Fred W. Callis and wife, Eva, of Suffolk, and George S. Callis and wife, Susan, of Suffolk; eight grandchildren, Ann Florian, Tammy Branscome, Billy Callis Jr., Stephan Callis, Fred Junior Callis, Michael Callis, Angela Callis and Lori Callis; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A special thank you goes to Eva Callis for the love and care she has given to Sam for many years and to the staff of Consulate Healthcare of Windsor for their care.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennett’s Creek Chapel by the Rev. Roger D. Johnson. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Driver Volunteer Fire Department. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.