Cleo Sampson Masters

Cleo Elizabeth Sampson Masters, 91, of St. Augustine, died March 10, 2015, at Brookdale of St. Augustine. She was a longtime resident of St. Augustine and a faithful member of San Sebastian Catholic Church.
Cleo Masters was born in Columbus, Ga., on Jan. 20, 1924. She was the daughter of Anthony Nicholas Sampson who was born in Athens, Greece, and Nettie McGraw, born in Pavo, Ga. As a young man, Anthony emigrated from Greece to Moultrie and Thomasville, Ga., to live with his relatives.
Cleo had a brother, James Nicholas Sampson of Jacksonville Beach and a sister, Christine Sampson Bennett of Vila Rica, Ga.; both deceased.
The family moved to Atlanta, where Cleo attended Hoke Smith Junior High School and Atlanta Girls High School. She graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a degree in Zoology and a master's in education and biology from Emory University in Atlanta.
She taught in the Atlanta Public High School System where she met and later married Captain (later Colonel) John J. Masters, U.S. Army, who was serving as the assistant professor of military science and tactics, ROTC, for five of the Atlanta public high schools. They were married on July 28, 1954, before he departed for a 17-month military tour of duty in Korea. During that time, Cleo lived in St. Augustine, she taught mathematics and science at Ketterlinus High School.
During John's military service, Cleo spent most of her time raising their three children and volunteering in many organizations at the various posts around the world where he was assigned. When John retired in 1975, the family moved back to St. Augustine where Cleo was an active member of the community. She was a life and charter member of the St. Augustine German American Club and charter member and past president of the Republican Woman's Club of St. John's County. She also served for over 20 years as a member of the Republican Executive Committee of St. John's County; Eucharistic Minister at San Sebastian Catholic Church, member and past regent of the Ancient City Chapter of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, member of United Daughters of the Confederacy, American Legion Auxiliary Post #87 and the Eland Club of Elks Lodge 829 and many others.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today March 13, 2015, at San Sebastian Catholic Church, the Rev. Fr. Thomas Walsh and the Rev. Fr. Rene Roberts officiating, with burial in San Lorenzo Cemetery. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass Friday in the church. The family requests no flowers and suggests a charitable donation in her honor to St. Francis House of St. Augustine (www.stfrancisshelter.org), San Sebastian Catholic Church Religious Education Enrichment Center (www.sansebastiancatholicchurch.com) or the Sisters of Saint Joseph (www.ssjfl.org), St Augustine.
Cleo was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Colonel (Ret.) John J. Masters Sr; who died on Sept. 14, 2012.
She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) John Jr. (Katrina Duren) Masters and Colonel (Ret.) Burton (Jolanda Heuts) Masters; daughter Colonel Elizabeth Masters and her husband Colonel (Ret.) Mark Tolzmann; and five grandchildren, Jack, Maria, Michael, Steven and Kaleb Tolzmann who loved her and were devoted to her until the end. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Eleanor Sampson, her brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Donald (Ina) Masters, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to thank Brookdale of St. Augustine, Vitas Healthcare and Internal Medical Associates (Drs. Frady and Mandi) and their staffs for their dedicated care.
Craig Funeral Home Crematory Memorial Park (www.craigfuneralhome.com) is in charge of the arrangements.