Funeral services for Samuel Oldham Henry, III, will be held at 11 :00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at First Baptist Church of West Monroe with Dr. David Uth, Rev. Michael Wood and Dr. Woods Watson officiating. Entombment will follow at Hasley Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. Services are under the direction and care of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of West Monroe, Louisiana.

Samuel Oldham Henry, III, was born in Ouachita Parish in the Cadeville Community on July 26, 1940. He peacefully passed away on May 20, 2022, at age 81, at his home in West Monroe, surrounded by family. Sam was born to parents, Sam 0. Henry, Jr., and Cleo Gentry Henry, both of whom predeceased him, along with his only sibling, a sister, Gwen Henry Hardy.

Sam is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shearon Regenold Henry, about whom he often said, “God has blessed me with many valuable things in my life, but only one thing is priceless – that is Shearon.” He is also survived by his four wonderful children that he loved dearly, Sam 0. Henry IV, Pamela Henry Brawner and her husband, Jeff, Karen Henry Clarke and her husband, Dan, and Michael Regenold Henry and his wife, Deidra, seven grandchildren, Katie Brawner Williamson (Brant), Sarah Brawner White (Joseph), Meg Brawner, Ainsley Clarke, Caroline Clarke, Elizabeth Clarke, Cayden Henry and 3 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of good friends.

Sam’s parents moved from the Cadeville Community to Columbia, Louisiana, when he was one year old. He was given a nickname “Bubba” that stayed with him throughout his youth and beyond. Having lived his early years in Columbia, LA, he often said he was raised in the mythical “Mayberry”, where life was easy, safe and fun.

While still a youth in Caldwell Parish he loved everything in recreation – football, baseball, swimming and especially hunting, fishing and camping most of all. He played piano for his church, First Baptist in Columbia, and played trumpet for the high school band at Columbia High School. Sam excelled in every endeavor he undertook, whether it be hunting, fishing, sports or academics (finishing near the top of his class). Sam declined a scholarship to play college football in favor of a fast track to become a lawyer instead. He did his undergraduate study at Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM), where he was a member and President of the Kappa Alpha Social Fraternity. Sam then graduated from Louisiana State University Law School in 1963. Before entering law school, he married Shearon Regenold, the love of his life and college sweetheart in 1960. Together they faced the challenges of life and the pleasure of rearing a wonderful family and the enjoyment of countless friends until his death.

Sam started practicing law in 1963 in West Monroe, Louisiana. In the fall of that year, he was invited to join the Law Firm of Jones, Blackwell, Chambliss & Hobbs. Sam and Shearon established their home in West Monroe. In the early years of his law practice, Sam was very active in community and church activities. He served as President of the West Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the Heart Foundation and as Chairman of the Civil Service Board. Professionally, he was a member of a law fraternity, President of the Fourth District Bar Association of Ouachita Parish, and Board Member of First National Bank of West Monroe and Community Trust Bank.

Sam practiced law in West Monroe for more than 60 years until his retirement this year due to illness. The first forty years of his practice were spent in the courtroom representing clients in both civil and criminal matters before judges and juries in Federal and State Courts of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Sam was a good lawyer, truly exemplary of the profession, and enjoyed an exceptional appreciation of the law with a brilliant mind and excellent reputation as an attorney. He was admired, highly respected and perceived by his peers in the legal community to be proficient and knowledgeable. He was professional and ethical in his practice with a sense of wisdom and intellect, and he exacted the same high standard of conduct in his personal life – modest, generous, understanding, loving, caring and considerate.

Sam was a mechanic, plumber, electrician, farmer and land developer. He had a unique gift of organization. He enjoyed current events and sports, particular the Saints and LSU football.

Sam loved life to the fullest. He had the opportunity to travel to many countries in the world, to pilot and own airplanes, to hunt North America’s big game in the United States, Canada and Alaska. He fished the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean.

Sam was a wonderful and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. As much as Sam loved Shearon and his family, he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, more than anything. He was faithful to his Church, First Baptist of West Monroe. He loved his men’s Sunday School Class, the members of which he has asked to serve as his Honorary Pallbearers. He loved all of the Pastors that served First West, Dr. Clifton Tennison, Dr. Dennis Swanberg, Dr. David Uth, Dr. John Avant, Dr. Mark Fenn and Pastor Michael Wood. He shared the sport of hunting with them and often enjoyed their many deep theological conversations.

Sam had enumerable friends, colleagues and acquaintances who would concur that there was never a truer friend than Sam Henry. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Pallbearers are Johnny James, Jerry Wolff, Vernon Guy, Todd Stevens, Dan O’Neal, III, Steve Walpole, Harry Liner, Hoyt Lee and J. B. Landry. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Pathfinders Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Baptist Church of West Monroe, 500 Pine Street, West Monroe LA 71291, or to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Attn: Office of Development, 4950 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge LA 70809.  Services will be livestreamed from First Baptist Church of West Monroe.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

Kilpatrick Funeral Home

West Monroe, LA

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