On Jan. 25, 2017, Sister Sammie Jean Tate May
answered the Master’s call and made her earthly departure at Beauregard Memorial Hospital in DeRidder. With saddened hearts and deep sorrow, her family, accepting the Father’s call for a lovely Jewel, knows that she is in the Master’s hands, and that
He needed her to fill His heavenly home.
Sister May was born the first of three children in Oakdale, to the parentage of the late Doretha McCray Norman and the late Samuel David Tate Jr. She was reared in DeQuincy, and was a graduate of
Grand Avenue High.
She continued her education when she attended a two-year elementary education program at Southern University, and then furthered her education in Beaumont, Texas, receiving a degree in Business Education. She then
received a secretarial job at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, where she received her Bachelor’s, Master’s and plus 30 degrees in the areas of Elementary Education, Counseling and Administration and Supervision.
Ms.
May’s career consisted of an elementary teacher at Cypress Independent School District, Cypress, Texas, and G.W. Carver Elementary, DeRidder. As she continued to advance,, she was hired as an administrative assistant and later became principal at
South Polk Elementary, Fort Polk. Before her retirement, May 21, 2007, she was the principal at Vernon Middle School, Leesville.
At an early age, Ms. May was baptized in the Methodist faith at Bethel AME Church, DeQuincy, by the late
presiding elder E.D. Williams Sr. Later, in the 1970s, she decided to join the Catholic faith in Beaumont, Texas. When she moved to DeRidder, she joined St Joseph’s Catholic Church, where she was a faithful and active member until God called her
home.
Along with teaching 10 grade CCD classes, she proudly accepted the invitation of being one of the chosen members to have worship services at a Catholic retreat and had just completed a class at McNeese State University, Lake Charles,
to help her understand more of the Catholic doctrines.
Mrs. May was a member of the Catholic Daughters; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.; National Association of University Women, Beauregard-Vernon Branch; Ebonite Culture Unlimited Club,
DeRidder; the American Legion Retired Unit No. 387, Leesville; Grand Avenue Alumni, DeQuincy. She was active in all her professional endeavors, clubs and organizations, where she received many prestigious awards, such as Ebonite Woman of the Year,
NAUW Valentine Queen, Outstanding Principal Achievement Awards and many others.
She was very sports oriented. During her high school years, she loved being a cheerleader, playing basketball, and running track.With her move to Texas, her
desire for sports continued with great excitement seeing the Dallas Cowboys beat their opponents.
Cherishing her memories are her children: Shaulonda Yveette Jackson, DeRidder, and Marcus Glenn Epperson, Houston; grandson, Kevin Douglas
Quinton Jr., DeRidder; her dad, Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Willie Norman Sr.; siblings Cyntia M. Taylor, DeRidder; Dr. Victoria A. Dixon, Arlington, Virginia.; Robert E. Norman, Baton Rouge; and Willie (Nicole) Norman Jr., Atlanta, Georgia; devoted aunt,
Alberta W. Clemons, Baton Rouge; and uncle, Walter L. (Nell) Beard, Oakdale; and a host of nieces, cousins and friends.