Samuel Tarver
Samuel (Sam) Tarver was born on June 24, 1935, in Phenix City, Alabama to the late Rogers and Anna Tarver. He was the youngest of six siblings all who were grown and married once he became a young man. All his siblings and their spouses have preceded him Bob Tarver, Eugene Tarver, Solomon Tarver (Annie Pearl), Roosevelt “Bill” Tarver (Theresa) and one sister Lula Jackson (Jimmy).
As the youngest, he had the joy of watching his nieces and nephews. Uncle “Samp” as he was called loved them so and they were the joy of his young adulthood. He and his siblings worked hard with their father’s own business making roofing for homes and slates for the railroad tracks. With all that hard work he enjoyed an active childhood and baseball was the family’s pastime and his first true love. One Sunday afternoon he was seen playing by the Manager of the Indianapolis Clowns (Negro League Team) and offered an opportunity to try-out. He packed his things and headed to Indianapolis, with what he thought would be a brief stop in Washington, DC with his cousins Curtis and Crocket Colbert.
While in DC he met Jean Mary Point, and his life changed forever. Sam knew that she was the love of his life, so he hung up his cleats and exchanged them for her hand in marriage. On November 24, 1955, Sam married his Beloved, who he affectionately called “Hon” and started a family. He began working for the University of Maryland College Park Food Services and later trained as a butcher for Giant Food. During his time at Giant he built his own cleaning service, C&W Janitorial Service with contracts throughout the city including the Maryland State Police Barracks in District Heights, Maryland. After leaving Giant, he continued to grow his business. To fill the days he began driving for The Georgetown, a retirement home in Washington, DC. He loved working with the residents and driving them all around. This passion lead him to start his own concierge transportation service, also known as the Limo.
In 1974, he joined Peace Baptist Church and was later appointed to the Deacon Board. He was a member of the Men’s Chorus and served as the President of the Youth Usher Board for a number of years. He was extremely proud of his ministry as he would go out to visit the sick and shut-in members of Peace. He later got involved in arranging transportation for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Deacon Tarver also served as a coach for the church softball league where Peace and other churches played on Saturdays in the late 70s.
Sam was devoted to his family and was the grill master at all family events. He was best known for his grilling and ribs were his specialty. He would make his special ingredients called “dishwater” and throw down on that grill! If you never had his cooking, you truly missed out. He loved to talk trash and mess with folks as he grilled. At Peace Baptist, he pulled his two partners Deacon Whitfield and Deacon Owens and together they would serve the neighborhood. He always had his rag in his hat, because grilling was hard work.
He was a dedicated and fervent prayer warrior. Through three generations, we could hear him early in the morning praying, for family, friends, church members, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was a true believer in the power of prayer, and being on your knees and in the presence of God. It was this foundation that he led his family – with deep and unshakable faith.
To know Samuel Tarver was to know joy, love, and faith embodied. To spend time with him, was to know God’s warmth. To be in his prayers, was to stand on the faith of our ancestors. There are no tears of sorrow, only gratitude for a life well lived, and with no regrets!
He patiently waits for his Beloved to join him in Paradise after 65 years of marriage – Mrs. Jean Tarver. Samuel leaves his legacy to be carried on by his two children – Michael Tarver and Tanya Tarver – Howell and a devoted daughter-in-law Robin Tarver. He was deeply loved and respected by his grandchildren and great–grands who called him “PaPa” – Tiana Renee Massaquoi (Victor), Ryan Jean Tarver, Timothy Luke Howell (Kyarra), and Chelsea Theresa Casey Tarver. Great-grandchildren – Taylen, Tanier, Sheridan, Takaiyah, Jordan, McKenna, Tyler and Londyn. Surviving Sisters-in-law: Elizabeth Williams, Feannia Point, Rosetta Holmes, Marlene Point Elizer Ford, and Fay Suddath (deceased). Surviving Brothers-in-law: Donald Point, Esaw K. Point and George Point (deceased). His very dear friends Deacon Melvin Whitfield and Deacon Doug Owens. A host of friends that called him “Uncle Sam or Dad Tarver, close cousins, nieces and nephews representing the DC, Maryland area, Phenix City Alabama, Lima Ohio, Austin Texas, Atlanta Georgia, Boston Massachusetts and Florida.
