Gwendolyn Samaha Meade

1940 - 2024

Gwendolyn Samaha Meade departed this earth on April 20, 2024, two months shy of her 84th birthday. She epitomized the American story, born in Baton Rouge, La., to a father who immigrated to the USA from Lebanon through Ellis Island at the tender age of four and a mother whose family arrived here pre-revolution via ship and the Acadian migration. She left Baton Rouge at a young age and started her adult life in Houston, Texas, where her children were born and where she eventually settled in the suburb of Pearland for the remaining 57 years of her life.

Gwendolyn so loved this wonderful earth that she'd rather have lived here eternally. She loved animals, especially dogs and horses...Triple Crown season was always greatly anticipated in her home. She was intelligent, loved to read, was a fabulous writer and a voracious consumer of news. She discussed world events with her children at the dinner table from the time they were very young, long before the advent of "24 hour news channels." While she loved her children, whom she reared alone, her grandchildren were the lights of her life. The two, born 22 years apart, brought her more joy than she had ever known. Stricken with renal cancer in 2014, she fought the good fight for 10 years until cancer finally claimed her. She passed away at home in relative peace and relieved of the pain and the fear, surrounded by her family, with her parrot, Billy keeping watch and her faithful little dogs, Maya, Allie, Sassy and Bella close by her side.

Gwendolyn was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Anita Brown Todd and Oliver Prater; her father and stepmother, Ellis Samaha and Anna Belle Nolan Samaha; her sister, Pamela Samaha Guarisco; her brothers, Craig Samaha, Ronald MacArthur, David Samaha and Oliver "Buddy" Prater; as well as beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her sister, Diane Prater Becker; brothers, Kenneth Samaha, Brent Samaha and his wife, Melanie and E. Douglas Samaha and his wife, Jo; her daughters, Dawn Meade, Candice Meade and Julee Meade; her sons, Michael Prater and his wife, Cheryl and Calvin Meade and his wife, Maria; her grandchildren, Ashley Lozano and Lincoln Meade; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Gwendolyn's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on June 1, 2024, at Unity Church, 2929 Unity Dr., Houston, Texas 77057, in the Chapel at the Welcome Center, reception following. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Hospital or the charity of your choice.