James Samuel Glasscock

J. Samuel Glasscock passed away on June 24, 2024 at his residence.
Sam Glasscock was born in Springton, West Virginia on November 19, 1931. His family moved to Chuckatuck (Nansemond County) in 1944 where he attended and graduated from Chuckatuck High School. Sam attended Hampden Sydney College where his blue eyes caught the attention of Betty Jane Staples, a Longwood Lady. After graduation, he was accepted to the University of Virginia Law School. Graduating in 1955, he and Betty were married in Charlottesville and returned to Chuckatuck where he practiced law with Joshua Pretlow.
Sam enlisted in the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corp, returning to U.VA for additional education. Subsequently assigned to Ft. Campbell in Heidelburg, Germany, he and Betty spent most of their free time traveling Europe and developing a life-long love of travel.
Upon returning to Chuckatuck, Sam began practicing law with Mills Godwin and became a partner in the firm Godwin and Glasscock. Sam often said Monday was his favorite day of the week; the day he got to go back to work, joining his close-knit group of co-workers. Always interested in politics, he threw his hat into the ring for a Virginia General Assembly, House of Delegates seat in 1969. Winning that election, he went on to serve through 1991, often championing less than popular causes. He supported treating AIDS as a heath care issue, improvements in automobile safety including seat belt use, fairness in divorce and accountability for deadbeat dads, as well as the abolishment of the death penalty.
His interest in improving the healthcare system led to his election to the Louise Obici Memorial Hospital Board of Directors in 1966 where he served as Board Chair for 25 years. He also served on numerous local and regional boards, relentlessly working for a better community. Among his many accolades, Sam was selected the 1994 1st Citizen of Suffolk by the Cosmopolitan Club.
Sam and Betty were very active and devoted members of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church. He studied world religions and read extensively. Reading and sharing his love of books was one of his greatest joys!
Sam was predeceased by his wife Betty, parents A.L. and Ellen Glasscock and brother Harry Jordan. He is survived by his three children Tom Glasscock (Margie), Linda Bunch (Butch), Lisa Carter (Charles), and his two grandchildren Bailey Rush (Fabian), and Mitchell Glasscock.
The family would like to thank the family of Jeanette Griffin for their love and support over the years. They would also like to thank the amazing staff of Trinity Hospice and caregivers Sheila and Dawn for their compassionate care.
A visitation will be held at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory, Downtown Suffolk Chapel, on Friday, June 28 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Wesley Chapel UMC, Chuckatuck. Interment to follow at the church cemetery. Please dress appropriately for the summer weather.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Western Tidewater Free Clinic 2019 Meade Pkwy, Suffolk, VA 23434 or the Robert Nusbaum Center at Virginia Wesleyan University (Center for Religious Freedom), 5817 Wesleyan Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23455. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.