Verna Sam Obituary

Verna Fredericka Carter Sam (affectionately called "Vee") was born on Sunday, June 22, 1952 in the village of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, Guyana. She was the first child of the late George Alphonso Carter and Pearlene Elvena Anderson Carter. She started her education at Buxton Congregational (Missionary) School and continued on to the renowned Buxton Government Secondary School. After secondary school, Verna continued to develop skills necessary for a civil servant job, by attending and graduating from the Government Technical Institute in Georgetown. When she was "old enough," Verna assumed the challenge of being the "big" sister and was very much involved with the nurturing and development of all her siblings. While at the Technical Institute Verna met her beloved husband, Alford (Walton) Sam. They were married on November 2, 1974 and their union produced their three daughters Gaynell, Tracy and Marcel. Later she was blessed with one grandson, Jaden. Verna's professional career started as clerk-typist at the Ministry of Health in Georgetown. She spent 17 years there until her migration to the United States in 1991. She enrolled in, and completed, a data entry course and worked temporarily in the securities division at New York Life Insurance Company. She subsequently worked at Moody's Investors Service where she started in administration and was promoted to Senior Financial Associate, working with the Investment Analysts. She continued in that position until her retirement in 2013. At the time of her emigration to the United States, she intended to spend 10 years, but she was in the U. S. full-time for 22 years. After retirement she traveled annually (with Walton) between Guyana and the U. S. to meet with family and friends. We know not what her thoughts were as she made the trip to the U. S. this past April, but, no doubt she expected to be back in Guyana. Verna lived a simple but good life. She was not much for fanfare, rarely celebrated milestone birthdays because she was not up to all the fuss. She worked on being the best wife, mother and grandmother. Occasionally, she took time to travel with her sisters, and visited Bermuda, Canada, England, and Europe either for a family occasion or just vacation. Verna was a member of Union Congregational Church in Harlem New York and participated in weekly bible studies as part of her spiritual journey. She also served as the Church's Financial Secretary/Church Clerk for a few years. While in Guyana she worshipped at Arundel Congregational Church, in Buxton, where she was baptized and confirmed. After a brief and complicated illness, Verna transitioned on Friday, September 1, 2023. She leaves to cherish her memories the following: her husband Walton; daughters Gaynell Sam Taylor, Tracy & Marcel Sam; grandson Jaden Sam Taylor; son-in-law Vaughn Taylor; siblings Frederick (her womb-mate), Linda, Roebert (Leslie), Monica (Mons), George (Lynden), Joan (Ann), Yvonne (Patsy), and Carol; in-laws Edna Redmond, Robert, Rensford, David & Clarence Sam, and Barbara Carter; aunt Claudette London; nieces Remona, Latoya, Lonice & Aviance Carter, Simone Garnett Hunter, Kaye Carter Severin, and Siedah Garnett; nephews Kevin, David, Conrad, Culwin & Graham Carter; cousins: Joyce Watson, Kathleen Grant, June Fortune Cox, Mark Fortune, Carlene Bagot, Pamela Anderson Grant, Colin Anderson, Denise Anderson Middleton, Emil (Roy) McGarrell, Woolford London, Desiree Jeffers and 25 others. Other cousins include: Daphne John, Joyce Johnson, Sherlock John, Yvonne Newland, Ruby Solomon, Patricia Jamison, Princess Padmore, Molly John, Audrey Campbell, Clifford Booker, Irwin John, and other John family members too numerous to mention; close friends Donnette Clarke, Paula Carter, Pam DeFrietas, Jean Zephyr, Alexa Hendy, Agnethia Nicholas, Marilyn Forde, Grace Bobsemple and others. Although we may not understand the complications of her illness, we do understand that death is a part of life; it does not have to make an appointment seeing it does not work on man's time-clock, but on God's perfect timing. Verna's journey of life is over; may light perpetual shine on her and may her soul Rest in Peace.