The members of Sampson Masonic Lodge #298 and Ava Lodge #26 will hold a Masonic memorial service on Saturday, April 16, 2011, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, to honor the memory of Sampson David Roberts on the 75th anniversary of his death. The Masonic service will be performed at the gravesite of Sampson Roberts in the Ava Cemetery, and will be conducted by Royce Wheeler, district deputy grand master of the 42nd Masonic District of Missouri.
Sampson Roberts was born near Cabool, Mo., in 1858. He married his wife, Sarah, in 1879 and started his family as a cotton farmer near Lead Hill, Ark.
He entered the Masonic Fraternity as a member of the Lead Hill Lodge.
The family subsequently moved to the Longrun area where Sampson was involved in raising cattle, horses, and mules. He transferred his Masonic membership to the lodge at Protem.
In 1898, at the age of 40, he entered the ministry and became a well-known and respected Baptist preacher.
He was instrumental in organizing the Masonic Lodge in Lutie (now Theodosia) and when chartered in 1900 the Lodge was named Sampson in recognition of his efforts.
In 1923 the family moved to Ava where Sampson served the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Ava. He transferred his membership to Ava Lodge #26.
Sampson Roberts passed away on April 13, 1936, at the age of 77.
The Masonic service at the Ava Cemetery is open to the public. Everyone is invited and all are welcome.
If additional information is required, please feel free to contact Len Modlinski, senior warden of Sampson Lodge #298.
