Samuel Harden Ross

On Saturday, August 15, 2020 surrounded by his loving daughter and family Samuel “Babe” Ross peacefully transitioned to his heavenly home and join his devoted wife Glyndola.  Born on September 10, 1926 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Samuel was the youngest of four children of the late Clarence Samuel Ross and Roumolia Sellers Ross.  He was the twin brother of Delta Hope Ross.

He was educated in various school systems in Greensboro, North Carolina and the Boggs Academy Boarding School in Savannah, Georgia before going to college.  Samuel was extremely proud of the fact that he was an alumnus of Morehouse College Class of 1947 and a classmate of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  He also had an opportunity to attend Dr. King’s funeral.  After speaking with Dr. King about pledging, Samuel chose to go with the brotherhood of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Dr. King chose Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.  Even though he was blessed with the opportunity to attend college, he never allowed those who could not use it as an excuse to not be self-educated.  “If you can read, you can learn.”  Pay attention to your grammar.  It’s a picture into the window of who you are.

Samuel relocated to the Washington DC area in the 1950s and was a cab driver until he began working for the Federal Government.  Samuel spent his entire career working as a Statistician and retired from the Census Bureau in Suitland, Maryland after a long and industrious career in 1980.

Samuel married the love of his life Glyndola Currie Ross on January 2, 1960 in Fayetteville, North Carolina and shared a life together for over 60 years.  Samuel and Glyndola were blessed with their only child Michelle who was their whole world and “Daddy’s little girl.” 

Ask Samuel about his roots and he would proudly tell you that he is a descendant of Harriet Tubman and Sidney Poitier.  He also was quick to share that he knew Lionel Ritchie’s mother Alberta Ritchie when she was pregnant with him.

Preceding him in death were Samuel’s parents, his wife Glyndola; his siblings Clarence Ross Sr. (Bessie), Ernestine Sacia Pandley (Johnnie Jr.) and Delta Hope Ross (Samiephyne).

He leaves to cherish his loving memory his daughter Michelle Humphries and her husband Paul who Samuel loved like “the son he never had.”  He also leaves a host of friends and other family that will cherish his memory.

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