John Sampson

John "Ned" Sampson

PEMBROKE — Mr. Ned Sampson, 84, of 100 Howard St., Pembroke, departed this life on Feb. 18, 2014, at his home.

The funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Berea Baptist Church, the Rev. Chris Hunt officiating. Burial will follow in the Lumbee Memorial Gardens.

He was born Sept. 27, 1929, the oldest child of Clifton and Bertha Goins Sampson, both deceased.

He was a 1947 graduate of Pembroke High School, and a 1953 graduate of Pembroke State College. He married Eva Brewington on Feb. 6, 1954. Sampson coached at Magnolia High School from 1953 through 1967, winning Indian High School Athletic Conference championships in both men's and women's basketball. He was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Pembroke Senior High from 1968 through 1977. Mr. Sampson had a great career at Pembroke State College as a star athlete in basketball, baseball and football. His talents went mostly unnoticed nationally but after a game against a traveling All-Star team, Sampson received a letter from Duke All-American Dick Groat saying he was the best basketball player he had ever played against. He averaged 24.3 points per game in his senior season at Pembroke State College in 1952, and he scored a school record 40 points against Campbell University. At 6'2", 190 pounds, Sampson was a pure shooter who could use either hand, according to "Playing Before an Overflow Crowd," a book by Bruce Barton and Tim Brayboy that chronicled the all Indian basketball league. Mr. Sampson was inducted in the inaugural University of North Carolina at Pembroke Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980 for basketball, football and baseball. He was inducted into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2009 he was inducted as a charter member of the Robeson County Sports Hall of Fame.

Mr. Sampson was a charter member and president emeritus of the Pembroke Lions Club, where he was a faithful member. Mr. Sampson was a deacon and a lifelong member of Berea Baptist Church in Pembroke and was active until he became too ill to continue to attend on a regular basis. He was a mild-mannered even-tempered man. He loved his family and that always kept him going during the struggles. He never complained even through the seemingly endless battle with serious health problems. He always enjoyed all the wonderful family and friends that would come and visit and share prayer and songs with him. Mr. Sampson was instrumental and a charter member with the foundation of the cultural and recreation center as he was always interested in the youth and their activities. Mr. Sampson was honored as the grand marshal, in 2010, during the 42nd annual Lumbee homecoming festivities. In addition, that year the 29th annual Lumbee homecoming 5K run and fun walk was held in his honor.

Mr. Sampson was preceded in death by a loving wife, Eva Brewington Sampson (Jan. 11, 2014). They would have celebrated 60 wonderful years of marriage on February 6th. He was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Belinda Faye Sampson; his parents; a brother, Will Dean Sampson; and a sister, Winnie Jane Sampson Johnson.

Mr. Sampson is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Ursula Freeman (Weldon), Ms. Karen Sampson and Mrs. Suzanne Ems (David); a son, Mr. Kelvin Sampson (Karen L); five grandchildren, Natalya Locklear (Nakoa), Lauren Sampson, Kellen Sampson, Austin Ems and Justin Ems; two great-grandchildren, Cayten and Charla Locklear; two brothers, Mr. Clifton 'Buddy' Sampson Jr., and Mr. Kent Sampson; two sisters, Ms. Shelvie Sampson Richards and Mrs. Norma Reed; and a host of relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Locklear & Son Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: John W. (Ned) Sampson Men's Basketball Scholarship, UNCP Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 1510, Pembroke, N.C., 28372

Online condolences can be made at www.locklearandsonfuneralhome.com.