Esther Bedwell-Samm

GARNER– Esther Gordon Bedwell-Samm, 95, died Friday. She was the daughter of the late James Sylvester Gordon and Lillie Howe Gordon of Jasonville, Indiana. Esther married Earl Wayne Bedwell, also from Jasonville, on May 6, 1941. They were married 50 years before his death in 1991. After moving to Garner, NC, Esther worked with the NC Fire Insurance Rating Bureau from 1952 until her retirement in 1982.  An active member of the Garner community, she was President of the Garner Woman’s Club from 1964-1966. She served three times as President of the Literary Ladies Book Club, between 1950 and 2010 and was in a bridge club for many years. She was also an active member of the XYZ Club and the Garner Senior Center. Since 1950, she was an active member of Hillyer Memorial Christian Church of Raleigh, NC. She loved being a part of DWM, the Sarah/Esther Circle, delivering Meals-on-Wheels, going on retreats and Prime Timers. With her many church and Garner friends, she loved to travel. She traveled all over the world, painting many scenes she saw and winning first runner up in a contest sponsored by the NC Federation of Women’s Club, Raleigh, NC. On March 11, 1995, at age 76, she married high school sweetheart, Wilbur Glen Samm. Before he died in 2008, they enjoyed several years of world travel and many beach trips to Southwinds, her condo at Atlantic Beach. A place at the beach was a lifelong dream fulfilled for her. Esther is survived by her daughter, Marcia Bedwell Long and son-in-law, George Perry Long; grandson, Gregory Kane Long and wife, Gloria; sister, Emma Bedwell, as well as several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy Gordon; sisters, Ellen Gordon and Lois Lee. Funeral Services will be 2:00 pm Monday at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Rd., Garner, NC. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place Tuesday at 11 AM at Raleigh National Cemetery, 501 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Heartland Hospice, 3200 Atlantic Ave., Ste. 100, Raleigh, NC 27604;  Alzheimer’s Association, 40 Oberlin Rd., Ste. 220, Raleigh, NC 27605; Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, 718 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603 or to a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff of Tower Nursing & Rehab, Heartland Hospice and the members of Hillyer Memorial Christian Church for their loving care and support.