Samuel David Tukes

Edwards Small Mortuary announces with our deepest sympathy the passing of Samuel Tukes on July 25, 2024. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends. 

Samuel David Tukes was born on October 29, 1942, the third of seven children born to the late David C. and Ida Bell Fields Tukes. He graduated from H.A. Hunt High and attended Fort Valley State University, formerly Fort Valley State College.

In high school, Samuel excelled in sports and academics. He ran track, played football, baseball and basketball. His senior year in high school, he was captain of the basketball team. He was voted most athletic and most popular. He received several college scholarships upon graduation from high school. He briefly played football for the United States Army and Fort Valley State.

He formerly worked for Bibb Manufacturing Company in Fort Valley and was a deputy for the Peach County Sheriff Department. He was later employed by Proctor and Gamble and retired from Weyerhaeuser in Oglethorpe, Georgia. Samuel served in the United States Army. He was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. He was a member of Davis – Dennis American Legion Post 268.

On August 17,1964, Samuel married Ernestine Laney and they shared fifty-nine years of marriage.

Later, he joined St. John Baptist Church where he served faithfully as a Deacon. He was an active member until his health began to fail.

He was preceded in death by his four sisters; Louise Tukes Harris, Viola Tukes, Lucy (Robert “Fannie”) Tukes Young, Lois (Cleveland) Tukes Scott; brother, Kenneth Tukes; three nieces: Lydia Harris, Carolyn Harris and Lashonda Scott, six aunts: Annie Laura Fredrick, Lucinda Hall, Pearlie Tukes Brown, Daisy Tukes Girdner, Annie Joe Tukes Postell, David Lee Marks, five uncles: John “J.T. Tukes, Riley Tukes, Willie Gordon Tukes, George Fields and Bill Bridges; mother and father-in-law, John and Gladys Laney; God Son, Kerey Weatherspoon; brother-in-law, John Laney.

Samuel leaves to cherish his memories; his devoted wife Ernestine Tukes; a loving son, Ronald (Thu) Robinson of Warner Robins, Georgia; a loving daughter Stephanie Tukes Manuel of Warner Robins, Georgia; a devoted brother Dannieth Tukes of Atlanta, Georgia; four grandchildren: Daniel Robinson, Tanisha M. Robinson both of Regensburg, Germany, Justin Vergara of Mannheim, Germany and Kayla Thomas Williams of Warner Robins, Georgia; six great grandchildren; aunts: Nancy Fields, Queen Turner and Joan Wilson; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Rev. Willie Frank and Nettie Brown; Emma and Harold Tate, Rev. Jimmie and Linda Ross; Frederick and Laverne McLaughlin, Hugh Stanley; nieces and nephews that he loved as his own children: Kevin Harris, Verlisa Williams, Glen Tukes, Kimberly Robinson, Bernard Scott, Latonya Montgomery, Jacola Scott, Danielle Andrews, Myriah Robinson, Audrey Clarke-Taylor, and Domeil Johnson; and a host of other great nieces and nephews, several loving godchildren, Katina Kendrick (Levi), Deborah Jackson (Robert), Kelvin Blalock, Virgil Blalock, Jr. (Mara), Genard Weatherspoon (Tangie), Jalesa Findley (Randy), LaKeitha Brown, Keith Jones, Stephanie Brown along with a host of other relatives and sorrowing friends.