Mattie Sams Caldwell

Deaconess Mattie Mae Sams Caldwell, 65, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at Mt. Carmel East. She was born September 19, 1945 to N.L. Sams and Annie L. Stafford in Shreveport, LA. She grew up on Butler Street and graduated from Booker T. Washington in 1963. Mattie accepted Christ at an early age at the CME Temple. In the early 1980's, she joined Greenwood Acres Full Baptist Church where she worked in the nursery. In 1991, she united with the Shiloh Baptist Church in Columbus, where she served on the Benevolent Committee, Deaconess Board, Women's Day committee, and the Shiloh Players. Mattie was named Shiloh's 2009 Woman of the Year. She retired from Lucent Celestica in 2002 after 30 years of service. She loved her family dearly. She was very proud of her children and had a special affection for her grandchildren. Preceded in death by husband Min. James P. Caldwell, Sr., mother Annie Lee Stafford Monroe, father N. L. Sams, brothers Charles Ray Stafford and Robert Wayne McKnight, stepfather Jack Monroe, dear aunt Jesse White, mother-in-law Olive Hinton, and cousins Henry E. and Annie M. White. Survived by children, Keleicia Caldwell Wilson (Charles), James P. Caldwell, II, Timothy D. Caldwell (Erica), and Rebekah S. Caldwell; grandchildren Kayla Caldwell, Davon Wilson, Isaiah Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Nariyah Hammons, and Tomia Farmer, all of Columbus, OH; sisters Lois Jean Harris of Birmingham, AL and Ethel M. Bonner of Waskom, TX; brothers Lawrence McKnight (Erma) of Dallas, TX, and Michael McKnight (Natalie) of Shreveport, LA; childhood family friend John L. Smith; and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. Memorial Celebration of Life 7 p.m., Monday, July 25, 2011 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 720 Mt. Vernon Avenue. Pastor Otha Gilyard, officiating. Mrs. Caldwell will lie in state Monday, 1- 4 p.m., at DIEHL-WHITTAKER FUNERAL SERVICE, 720 E. Long Street.