Geneva Luvina Mantooth Sams, 91, of the Otto Community in Macon County, died Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at Seneca Rehabilitation Center in Seneca, SC after a period of declining health. She was born February 17, 1920 to Clayburn and Trissie-Jane Mantooth in Louden County, Tennessee and moved as an infant with her parents to Gastonia, NC that same year. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom preceded her in death. In addition, she was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Estel Clay Sams in 1992 and by a daughter, Eva Lynn Haines in 2002 and a son-in-law, Ronald Haines in 2005. Mrs. Sams was a homemaker, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was an active member of Newman Chapel Baptist Church since the early 1940s. Mrs. Sams enjoyed caring for her family, cooking, gardening, sewing, and quilting; was an avid reader and enjoyed mystery novels and crossword puzzles.

She is survived by two sons, Bill and his wife Martha (Cabe) of Walhalla, SC and Clay and his wife Sue (Williamson) of Charlotte, NC; a granddaughter, Cathy Sams Littleton (Tim) of Walhalla, SC; a grandson, Billy Cabe (Paige) of Sanford, NC; five grandchildren, Morgan Owens, Garrison Owens, Savannah Cabe, Lindsay Cabe and Cameron Cabe and a number of nieces and nephews and extended family in Gastonia, Charlotte, Hayesville, NC and Hiawassee, GA.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Newman Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Alton Dendy officiating, where the body will lie in state for 30 minutes prior to the service. A reception and visitation will follow the service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to the Newman Chapel Baptist Church, 10 Mulberry Road, Otto, NC 28763.

Macon Funeral Home in Franklin, NC is in charge of the arrangements.