Sam Nelms Pitner

Sam Nelms Pitner, 99, died peacefully on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Traceway Retirement Community in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Sam was born July 30, 1926, in New Albany, Mississippi, to Hugh Marcus Pitner and Leila Rebecca Nelms Pitner. He graduated in 1944 from New Albany High School, after which he did what most of the young men did at the time and enlisted in the military. Following his three older brothers into the Navy, he served aboard the supply ship Algorab in the Pacific during World War II.
After the war and his discharge from the service, he enrolled at Mississippi State University and attended for one year. He had such fond memories of his time in the Pacific Northwest during the war that he transferred to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he graduated in 1950 with a degree in English and drama. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In the 1950s Sam opened Pitner Office Supply in New Albany. In the early 1960s he entered the newspaper business, moved to Winona, and published The Winona Times and The Conservative for over 30 years. He added a TCBY franchise to his business portfolio to keep him busy until his retirement. After he retired, he moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he served his new community as a volunteer with CASA and Jackson House. He eventually returned to Mississippi to be near children and grandchildren.
Sam was married to the former Mary Eliza Griffin on August 25, 1963. They were married for 37 years and remained friends as they welcomed grandchildren into the world and celebrated holidays and milestones.
A lifelong member of the Methodist Church, Sam was actively involved in the Methodist Church in each municipality where he lived. He lived out his faith in Jesus quietly, allowing that faith to guide everything he did.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Dan Nelms Pitner, Robert Nelms Pitner, Paul Nelms Pitner, and Edward Nelms Pitner. He is survived by his son John Mark Pitner (Sintawat Wangsiricharoen), daughter Rebecca Leigh Pitner Nassif (Naji), and daughter Mary Susannah Pitner Fox (Joe). He also leaves his granddaughters Nayla Susannah Nassif, Rebecca Carlyle Fox, Zeina Lucienne Nassif, and Mary Sanders Fox.
A funeral service will be held Monday, September 8, 2025, at 11:00 am at First Methodist Church in New Albany, where he was a member at the time of his death. Internment will follow immediately at New Albany Cemetery. United Funeral Service of New Albany is in charge of the arrangements.
In remembrance of Sam's life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to First Methodist Church of New Albany or Methodist Children's Homes of Mississippi.